Meeting Notes

Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

• Now that ELLE and the CW's Stylista is over we need a new women's magazine reality TV show. Marie Claire and StyleNetwork are giving us just that this spring. Scheduled to air for eight weeks, "Running in Heels" will debut on March 1st and follow three interns as they work with the Marie Claire writers and editors. Think Stylista meets The City.

• 

Would you wear a skimpy outfit to work if you thought it'd help you get a promotion? According to the UK's Daily Mail, 27% of women would. Some other fun facts: 54% of the women polled believe dressing up helped them preform better at work; 63% have experienced wardrobe malfunctions; and 14% split their pants at the office.  The poll also named marketing and advertising profession as the most competitive for fashion rivalry. 

• Women have some a long way in the work place but it looks like we are still giving one another a hard time at the office. Earlier this week in the New York Times, leadership coach Peggy Klaus discusses female bullies in the work place. She says that while woman will help one another some have the mentality that they shouldn't help someone that could replace them.

• Ask Working Girl! Have a question for one of us? Work-related? Life-related? Ask us! Leave a comment below or send us an e-mail at WorkingGirlOne@gmail.com or WorkingGirlTwo@gmail.com. 

Delurkers Unite!

This is what happens when you go away to Atlanta for a week - you come back home with your Google Reader overflowing (280 posts!?!? really guys?!?!) and realize that it's Delurking Day/Week. And we at Working Girl practically missed it all.

I have confessed many a time that I am a huge lurker. I'm not a good commentor (one of my New Year's resolutions!), so this is the perfect week for me to start. And it's the perfect time for you to start too!

WG1 and I read our Google Analytics. We know there are a lot of you out there lurking and we'd love to meet you! So leave us a comment or e-mail us.

You know you want to!

What a Working Girl Wants

I'm over winter. So totally and completely over winter. It's cold out. And it's windy and it's snowing. My skin is dry. And my shampoo, which sits on the windowsill of the window in the shower, froze today. I'm over winter.

The window displays at The Gap are now screaming "SPRING" at me as I walk by everyday. I was planning on doing some serious winter sale shopping with my Christmas money but then I needed a root canal and that is costing me. So, instead of added some much needed pieces to my winter wardrobe, I'm day dreaming of a new spring one. Here are just a few things I'm looking at to get me in the spring mood!













Polka-dot dress - Anthropologie












Brown Sandals - Steve Madden at Piperlime























Red raincoat - Old Navy








White Jeans - AG at Shopbop

The City: Lock it Down

At DVF there is a big party coming up and Olivia is working on the guest list of editors and "socials." Socials are socialites. Which, I think, has got to be slightly awkward for Olivia. She has to work the event her friends are invited to. She may as well be serving the champagne. "It's just like...abbreviation." - Olivia on the word socials.

We spot DVF herself for the first time on The City. How cute that she played with Whitney's hair for a second.? "No, I don't." - DVF when Whitney says she looks pretty.

Whitney felt that her meeting with DVF went well. "I'm so happy for you." - Olivia. That is false.

Tell me that Erin and Whitney are having a pre-work breakfast chat again! I can't even focus on what they are saying. I'm trying to figure out if that's a sandwich Erin put in her mouth of if it is toast. Basic gist of the conversation: Jay doesn't want to commit to Whitney.

I wish my office looked the DVF office. The big party is the Wonder Woman party. Whitney has been given the task of windows. Olivia has been told to help her. She doesn't look happy. Surprised? Me neither.

I love Duncan. He made Erin's bed. And he did a good job. If only my boyfriend would do that. Duncan is thinking about moving to the city and explains to Erin that he'd need to sleep on her couch until he found a place. "And, by couch, I mean bed" - Duncan. He's seriously great.

At the Wonder Woman party, Whitney meets Chris. The kind of cute guy who works in the finance department of DVF. He asks her to lunch in front of their co-workers.

While Whitney is at lunch with Chris, Jay calls. Dun dun dun. I feel awkward watching Whitney and Chris. Ok, what was that hug when they got back to the office? So awkward. "I'll see you down the hallway." - Whitney to Chris after the awkward hug.

At dinner, Whitney tells Jay that she went to lunch with a co-worker named Chris. He gets jealous. And he should really calm down because if he knew how awkward the lunch was he wouldn't be worried.

When gabbing with Whitney about boys and dating, Erin uses the term "riding the wave," which I love. Two points for Erin. But she's still no Whitney circa The Hills.

Jay meets Adam at his place of work, Il Bastardo (yum!), to discuss the Whitney situation. Jay decides he needs to "lock it down." I think that's Australian for "make her my girlfriend."

So, Jay goes to Whitney's apartment and tells her he wants her to by his girlfriend. I couldn't really watch because it was weird to watch them make-out.

VIP Status

I have arrived in Atlanta for my company's big event. And since I've been awake for what seems like over 24 hours, I am a teeny bit delirious. So bear with me.

As I write this post, I am sitting in the Executive VIP lounge on the Executive floor of the hotel. AH! I feel as though I have arrived just because I have a hotel key that is gold, sparkly, and says VIP. Ok, that's false. But I do feel pretty cool. I have been granted VIP status. It's official. I have come up in the working world.

When I checked into my hotel yesterday, I was informed by the front desk that I had been upgraded since I was the main on-site contact for the event. I was floored. Mainly because there are so many other people I feel like should be upgraded before me, you know? I'm a lowly coordinator.

But this means I have access to a free computer, a free printer (not that I've used it), and this pretty Executive lounge with comfy couches and a really awesome view of...nothing. Otherwise, there is nothing really special about my VIP status. But I do feel pretty important, which in turn has made me more confident, which I think in turn has made me a better worker.

Is it weird that a gold sparkly key has made me more productive?

More updates to come on Wednesday when the conference ends!

20-Something Bloggers Love Us! They Really Love Us!

I am very behind in my blogging life - I should have posted meeting notes yesterday but instead I was gallivanting around Irish pubs in Chicago with two of my former study abroad roommates. Yes, you guessed it - we went to Ireland. Anyway, while it was fun taking Baby Guinness shots, almost getting into a fist fight, and ending the night with a #3 meal and a heart-to-heart at Rock 'N Roll McDonald's, I should have probably been at home working on my uncompleted Excel sheets and answering e-mails about flights from those employees who can't read e-mails. 

I leave for Atlanta tomorrow morning at 6AM (kill me now)  for my first big event with my company. I am internally freaking out. Is a pack of 12 highlighters enough? Are we definitely sure that the chef at the hotel knows we have a vegan and a gluten-free in our party of 214? Will the projector screens be the right size? 

This is the problem with doing events for a job. They make you crazy. You worry, worry, worry and then worry some more. And ultimately everything ends up going well (if you planned it well that is), but of course there are some things that are beyond our control. Inevitably something will go wrong. But you just have to roll with the punches. Anyway, I will be a bag of nerves for the next five days.

So the point of this long, drawn-out post is that I have been neglectful of all things blog. I should have been writing better posts, keeping you updated in a better manner, commenting on blogs, reading the blogs in my Google Reader (it's past 100 now). And we should have said thank you already for nominating us for a 20-Something Blogger Bootleg Award! 

We are up for the award of Best Blog about Career/Occupation. I think that's the name (sorry if I massacred that one). Anyway, we are beyond thrilled that we have been nominated!!!!! This is insane!!!! We have barely hit our one-year anniversary, and I just feel so blessed/excited/out of my mind happy that we are being recognized by 20sb! 

So if  you are a member of 20sb (or if you want to sign up and become one), click here to vote for us! 

We hope we win, but really it's just an honor to be nominated (but really we'd love to win). 

Sorry We Left You Hanging

I recently realized that WG2 and I write posts about our lives and then, sometimes, leave you hanging. What ever happened to Digital Boy? Just how sick nasty is WG2's apartment? These are the things I'm sure you all have be wondering lately, right? We promise to get better at this in 2009. For how, here are some updates for you.

Working Girl One:

• I’ve gotten better at being a grown up but not before I got more of an ass kicking. My mom’s dentist put me on Amoxicillin so my tooth that needed a root canal wouldn't get infected. Turns out, I’m allergic. I got a full body rash and had to see the nurse at work (yes, we have a nurse). She put me on steroids and the rash began to go away. On Saturday, I had my root canal and it wasn’t awful but I never want to do it again. I also finished the steroids on Saturday and by Sunday my rash came back. Awesome. This time, I went to a real dermatologist and the rash is going away. I also have physical scheduled for the first week of February.

• In early December, I was in a funk. I missed WG2 terribly and was so jealous that she was embarking on a new adventure. I still miss WG2 and so happy for her because she’s so obviously happy. But now, I’m out of my funk.

• I vowed a while back to do my Christmas shopping early and not shop at Target on Christmas Eve. I kind of broke that vow. Kind of. I didn’t do my shopping at Target on Christmas Eve, I did it on Christmas Eve Eve. While I was on Vicodin. My sister loved every minute of it. (Don’t worry, she drove.)

• The Biggest Winner: My team blew it. We were good for a week. I was eating well and working out. Then Thanksgiving happened and I feel of the wagon. And so did my whole team, so I don’t totally feel bad.

• Digital Boy is now a running joke in my office. Since that post, DB has visited me a couple of times. However, unlike his first visit, these visits have been more work related. So, I think he’s over me.

Working Girl Two:

• It's been a month since I started my new job and things are going pretty well. I still like my new boss. I still love my new desk. I still like my daily tasks. Overall, I am very happy I took the plunge and moved back to Chicago after living in NYC (except it was really Hoboken) for a year (and a half).

• I still feel like I could be more invested in my job, though I hope as I move forward as an employee, I will be entrusted with more responsibility. I just started, so I'm not getting my panties in a twist about it.

• I'm working on getting work friends. I forgot how hard it is to make work friends. Ugh.

• My apartment is amazing and completely done - I just got the final finishing touches of furniture I needed so it is complete. It already feels like home and I can't wait for the summer to start using my sweet deck.

• I still keep in contact with people from my old job. And I miss all my old work friends...a lot. And of course I miss WG1 and all our NYC friends. It's been hard getting used to not seeing all of them on a daily basis, but like I said I don't regret for a minute the decision I made to move back.

Captivate Network Should Pay Me to Write This Post

Every day, I walk into work and wait at the bank of elevators downstairs to take me up to floor 9 where I will begin my work day. 

Every day, I wait and pray and pray with all my might that I won't get the one elevator without Captivate Network inside its doors. Captivate Network, if you're listening, I would love if you would pay me for this endorsement. I love your product. If I owned a building, I would put you in all my elevators. But since I am poor and own no buildings (come on now, you all know I barely own food), I cannot buy you. But I will enjoy you to your fullest. 

Quick explanation for those of you without Captivate. Some elevators in this world are privileged. This means that their owners went out and decided, "Hey, we'd really love to give those who ride our elevators day in and out a treat." So they called Captivate Network and had tiny televisions installed in each elevator. And voila! Now we have little TV's to help us avoid awkwardly talking to people we don't know on our way down to grab a sandwich at lunch time. 

I know some of these tiny TV's can be actual TV's with newsfeed from CNN or whatever, but I think I prefer this more. See these little TV's give us tiny snippets of information that leave us wanting more. For example, I found out today that Alyssa Milano is engaged. How did I find out? From Captivate Network's gossip news! I also found out that it's going to snow Friday (boo!), that unemployment is way up (duh), and that some sports team beat another sports team at some sport (yea, sorry, I could care less). 

Point being, this little TV brings me immense joy in the middle of a boring day or a hectic day or just a day when I need to know the weather and my Internet is down because I kicked some wires under my desk taking out my Internet with my swift karate kicks and thought that the whole server was down and went complaining to anyone who would listen that the server was down when it wasn't (true story). 

As I mentioned above, there is one lone elevator in my building that does not have a tiny TV with Captivate Network. And everyone avoids this car like the plague. Including myself. Sorry elevator, I don't know why but you weren't cool enough to have a tiny TV and therefore are a loser elevator. 

So in short, I have somehow become addicted to a tiny TV in an elevator at work. And the fact that I'm even writing this down makes me pathetic.

That is all. 

The City: L-O-V-E

Does every episode of The City start with a new guy? Ah, Erin's boyfriend. His name would be Duncan.

Another pre-work roomie breakfast? Don't these girls have to be at the office? During this weeks gabfest, Whitney feels bad for sleeping on Erin's couch. "It's a little crowded but of course you are welcome" - Erin. A little crowded? Her foyer is bigger than my bedroom.

"It's so difficult" - Whitney on apartment hunting in New York. Girl, you have no idea. But MTV is probably paying your 15% broker fee so I don't feel bad for you.

Olivia is completley bored at DVF. Whitney, why are you answering your cell at work, right after your boss asked you to do something? You'll rush to meet Jay? Do you not have hours that you need to be in the office? Oh, right, right. You don't really work there.

While apartment hunting with Jay, Whitney says that she pictured herself in "one of those shorter brick buildings." That would be a walk-up, Whitney.


Back at DVF, Olivia goes on a long tangent about not being dependant on a man. I love the random coworker eavesdropping on her. I bet she's thinking "Olivia, being dependant on your father is worse, shut up!" Cause that's what I was thinking.

Erin and Duncan gross me out a little bit but Ducncan kind of sort of cracks me up. "By weird, do you mean awesome?" - Duncan.

Whitney took the apartment Jay found her and put in a very ugly couch. Erin informs Whitney and Jay that she and Duncan said "I love you." Jay freaks out. Whitney freaks out and worries about their relationship because Jay freaked out.

Erin and Whitney go for a walk in Central Park. I wonder why I never saw them when I went for runs around the reservior. Oh, cause I've only done that twice since September.


I don't like Olivia's cousin Nevan because he looks creepy and talks creepy. But most of all because of this: "I was waiting for the subway on 28th street and I spit on the platform." I hate when guys do that. It's so gross and they do it all the time. It makes me want to push them onto the tracks. Ha, he got $100 ticket. That's the best thing I've heard all day.

Olivia's mad that Whitney didn't take her apartment hunting advice. Olivia clearly wants to be Blair Waldorf and she wants Whitney to be the first member of her new entourage.

At Stanton Social Jay is still hung up on the "L" word. He and Whitney have the awkward "what are we?" conversation and he is so Justin Bobby. He doesn't want a label but he does want to get to know Whitney better. "So we're toally on the right page" - Jay. Whitney is so not on that page.

Images [MTV.com]

The City: Small World

(Editor's Note: I know, I know, I'm so behind already with The City recaps. Here is the recap from last week's second episode. Last night's recap coming ASAP.)

Who is this Alex character? I'm guessing they covered him on The Hills which, as you know, I'm so over. Alex breaks the news to Whitney that Jay is dating was dating went home with his roommate's best friend.

"Small world." - Whitney. I bet she'll say that in every episode. Manhattan is an island Whitney, it's pretty small.

Back in Gramercy, Whitney briefs Erin, who is taking the friend role that Whitney had in The Hills and seriously sucking at it. Make some funny faces or get a better accent.

In Central Park Jay and Adam are playing basketball. I'm enjoying shirtless Adam very much.

Oh Olivia. She and her cousin Nevan don't want Whitney to get caught in that "downtown crap" and are going to let her into their inner circle. What is this? High school?

At Cafe Noir, Jay is channeling Justin Bobby like whoa. Whitney confronts Jay. "I supposed I should explain." - Jay. Well, duh! With that accent I'd believe his story too.

Olivia takes Whitney to a Manolo Balanik event at Bergdorf Goodman and informs Whitney that the Balaniks are old family friends. Whitney runs into the assistant buyer and Olivia doesn't seem to happy about that. Wait, Olivia did say he was a family friend, right? I don't think Mr. Balanik had any idea who she was. And he could not have cared less about her first pair of Manolos.

Adam's girlfriend, Allie, looks beyond bored at Tenjune. "Omigod, Alex is here." - Whitney. She can't seriously be surprised, right? Jay and Alex fight. Whitney truely looks upset and drained. All we need is Lauren Conrad with a good eyeroll and this would be perfect.

OMG KELLY CUTRONE! I never thought I'd be so happy to see her. Whitney goes to People's Revolution to visit Kelly. She is getting very maternal and I love it. Kelly, I could use the names of a few good doctors in the city, thanks! Whitney explains her boy drama to Kelly. "Maybe you can't turst both of them." - Kelly. So enlightening.

Favorite Quotes:
"She got a job? That's not like her" - Kelly on Olivia.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Why is Monday all of a sudden the greatest day of television EVER? Seriously, I wish I had a DVR that recorded more than two shows at a time because then I could tape The Big Bang Theory and Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill and Intervention and The Bachelor (which looks like it's going to be a fantastical season!). 

Anyway, on to my point. So today was a really, really hectic day. I leave on Sunday for Atlanta where I will be putting on my first event for my company. Can we say scary? So not only was today hectic, but I had to bring work home. In short, I'm tired and I really just want to veg and watch TV and eat red velvet cupcakes (thanks sis for baking for me!). 

And then I realized, 'Well, we have received a lot of awards lately. Maybe we should do the nice thing and say thanks.' 

***

Back in September (yes, I told you we were behind), My Life in Scotland, cited us as her newest "Blog Crush". We're touched! I have to admit that I am a subscriber of this fantastic blog - I love hearing all about her adventures in Scotland. I'm jealous of her European lifestyle...so here I go...I'm taking the plunge and asking if I can move in? No...ok.

***

In December, her name was ashley honored us with the Butterfly Award. So here's my next big confession, I'm a big lurker on a lot of blogs and Ashley's is one of them. Sorry I don't comment more - but it's one of my New Year's resolutions so look out for me! I love her outfit posts (I'm Gap obsessed too) and in general I feel like we'd really get along in real life (so I officially feel like a stalker!!!). 

***

We also received some blogger love from *Just Jen* over at Because I Could Never Keep Up With a Diary! Thank you so much! We just found her blog and will definitely be checking back for more.

***

Sex on the Beach was one of the first blogs I ever read. Seriously, I fell in love at first blog. J is hilarious, tells some of the most entertaining stories, and is one very honest blogger. So thank you from Working Girl for the recognition and honor of being one of your faves too! 

***

And last but not least, one of our newer readers Jessica at Happy Girls are the Prettiest Girls gave us the award below. I just started reading her blog today, but already I am sure we are gonna be bff (she also lurves The Bachelor!). So thank you for this generous accolade! 

***

So a big thank you, thank you, thank you for all the awards! And now I must go back to stuffing my face with cupcakes, watching One Tree Hill (wtf is going on with this show!), and finishing up my (home)work for tomorrow. 

The Best is Yet to Come

As 2008 comes to a close, we at Working Girl have been doing a lot of self-examination. Which in more simpler and less philosophical terms means we each went through our archives and picked out our favorite posts of 2008. Read below to find out which were our favorites of our first year of blogging.

Working Girl One's Picks

Is It Friday Yet? and Surburbia is the New Manhattan

My dad loves these posts. Specifically Suburbia is the New Manhattan because he is mentioned. I love getting a peak into the day to day aspects of people's lives, so with these I'm sharing my mundane commute with you. Which reminds me, I haven't written about my new commute...

Cause I Had a Bad Day

Back on April 24th, I was barely a month into my new position as the marketing assistant and this post completely sums up how lost I felt. I was learning the ropes of the position and the department and just had a bad day. Reading this post over reminds me of how far I've come and what I've learned, it makes me thankful that I've had a lot of good days lately. It probably helps that I took a majority of my vacation days in December.

Excuse Me, Your Spanx Are Showing

What was I thinking with this outfit? Seriously? I don't think I've worn that dress since this very day.

She Works Hard for the Money
The article I referenced in this post really resonated with me. I'm so thankful for my upbringing and that my parents taught me how to take care of myself and my life.

Working Girl Two's Picks

The Best (Interview) Day of My Life: Part I & Part 2

I love reading over these posts again and again because they bring me back to those days of just being so happy. I had just met Hanson (!!!!), had a great interview, got a job offer in a city near my family, and had been admitted to Northwestern for a master's in journalism. I was elated to say the least. And these posts remind me to not take those feelings for granted and also remind me that I made the right decision - because I'm still as happy as I was when I wrote those posts.

I Feel Guilty, Oh So Guilty

This is probably the most honest post I have ever written. I was being brutally honest, something I hadn't done with myself for a long time. It took a lot of courage to say that I wasn't happy and that I wanted to move back to Chicago and this post was the first time I really acknowledged my feelings.

Reason #328 Why I Can't Stand My Job

This post is a true story account of my day-to-day at my old company. Which in hindsight just makes me laugh. Wow.

Working Girl Two and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Interview

I chose this post because like WG1 said above on her post about a bad day, it really shows you how far you have come. Reading this over, I know I made mistakes that day (like I should have known to ask who I was interviewing with instead of just assuming it was someone). But it's good to see progress in myself that I can acknowledge those mistakes and know that I have grown.

We hope all you Working Girls have a great New Year's Eve celebration filled with champagne and sparkly dresses (and no work the next day! yay!). Happy New Year!

The City: That's So New York

Last night's premiere of The City had exactly one redeeming quality: the choice of music during the DVF fashion was Lady Gaga. I'm going through a huge Lady Gaga obsession right now so any show playing her can't totally suck.

The Cast
Whitney: The California girl that we loved to loved on The Hills.
Erin: The friend/temporary roommate.
Olivia: The frienemy.

Jay: The Australian Love interest whom I hereby dub the Justin Bobby of The City.
Adam: Jay's roommate.

Whitney's introduction to her new job is typical New York: Here are some people. Here is your desk. Good luck. Her introduction to Olivia is typical reality TV. "Who are you?" Olivia asks. Oh, like you don't know who she is, Olivia! The question is, who are you? Other than a "social."

Next, we met Erin. Whitney is crashing with Erin until she finds a place of her own. I'm dying to know what Erin does because that apartment is sick nasty. "That's so New York," Erin says of dinner parties. It so is.

Ah, the token love interest.Whitney met Justin Bobby Jay at Nero in the West Village. He's Australian. While I love the accent I think he's a cheese ball. "Can I sing to you tonight?" Case in point.

The post-date, pre-work roomie breakfast chat just doesn't happen in real life, as far as I know. I'm lucky if I have time to shower before, let alone make breakfast and gab with my roomies about my night. But maybe I should try it. It probably doesn't take long to recap a night of eating potato chips and watching Jon and Kate Plus 8.

At the DVF fashion show after party Whitney's boss told her that she think Whitney will do a great job at DVF. If only she were really employed there. Olivia immediately notices the convo, swoops in and asks Whitney to come to her dinner party (avec Jay). Something tells me Olivia's Mommy nanny told her to keep her friends closer and her enemies closer.

Since Jay doesn't want to go to the dinner because he doesn't think Olivia is genuine. So she brings Erin. Now, I don't die with "socials" often but I'm pretty sure it isn't polite to bring an unexpected guest. Make that guests because Jay did in fact show up. Only with whisk Whitney (and Erin) away from the "socials." He's probably going to go sing to them.

What we know (based on body language along):
Erin does not like Olivia.
Olivia does not like anyone, except maybe Jay.
Jay likes anything with boobs.

Favorite quotes:
"I hate a dead handshake." - Olivia
Oh, girl. So do I.

"There is no polite way to get out of a taxi." - Erin
Fact. 

(Editor's note: MTV aired two episodes of The City last night. The second episode's recap will be posted later this week/weekend).

Image [MTV.com]

I'd Like To Invest

Apparently I started my new job smack dab in the middle of busy season. As the Project Coordinator, I have two large events each year that I have ownership of. One is in January and the other is in February. 

Having started in this position almost a month ago, I've been busy preparing the final details of the big event my new company has in early January. But as I go about attending meetings, editing all the written materials, and ordering the meals, I find myself not getting into it as I usually do. 

See, I love planning. In college and when I lived in NYC, I was always the planner. I took care of New Year's plans, birthday dinners, and spring break plans (and I especially love planning my yearly birthday extravaganza!). I like picking the restaurant or the bar that we'll get to go to. I like knowing all the details and being in the thick of plans. So in a way, it makes sense that I fell into this job of event planning and marketing. At my old job, we did two large events a year as well. I was very invested in both of them. I knew every answer to every question anyone had about the events. The decor, the layout, the food, the collateral - I was involved in every step of the process. 

I think this is why I'm having a hard time throwing myself into this event that will occur in January. I'm not very invested. Some would say that I'm lucky. I started this job and all the work was done for me. The things that are left to take care of are the small details and all the on-ground work the day of the event. Which should have me jumping for joy. Other than putting together some team-building projects, I really haven't had much involvement. 

But every day, someone will come and ask me a question. And most of the time I don't know the answer because I haven't been with this project since day one. I really think the best part of planning an event is following through - being there from the beginning when everything was just an idea and then seeing it all come together. It makes all the stress and all the worry very worthwhile. And you feel proud because you achieved something and you saw the fruits of your labor.

I'm doing my best to get caught up (ah! it's only two weeks away!), and I think I've been doing a pretty good job. Good enough that I know this event will run smoothly and I'll come back to Chicago alive. 

I just wish I was a little more invested.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Working Girls! Have a happy and healthy holiday!

Love, WG1 and WG2

I'm Bad at Being a Grown-Up

This conversation with WG2 pretty much sums up how bad at am at being a responsible grown-up:

Thursday, December 18th
Approximately 3:30PM

WG1: i decided that i need a life makeover
slash real one

WG2: ok
what does this involve?

WG1: i'll make a list:
1. i need to go to the doctor (i haven't been since college)
2. i need to go to the gyno (same)
3. i need to go to the dermatologist (my skin is a nightmare lately)
4. i need to go to the dentist (haven't been since college)

WG2: WORKING GIRL ONE!
what the FUCK

WG1: 5. once i do all these things, i need to keep up with them and go when i'm supposed to
(I KNOW!)

WG2: you haven't been to any doctors in 2 years?!?!

WG1: right

WG2: you are usually really responsible

WG1: my insurance is switching on jan 1, so once that happens i'll find a doc and go from there
i know, i think i have a thing about drs

WG2: um yea that is not good
now i'm all worried about you
get the fuck checked out

I know! I know! Believe me, I know! For the past few weeks have had a minor toothache on my lower molars. I told myself that after the holidays I would go to the dentist for a check up. I just thought the pain was my wisdom teeth coming in. Yes, I have no gotten my wisdom teeth out yet. But you're not surprised by that, right?

The pain would come and go and it was never really that painful. Until last night. The pain started and just would not stop. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't read. I couldn't watch TV. I couldn't focus at all. It was beyond painful. I'm visiting my mom, so at 4AM, when I could no longer take the pain, I woke her up. She gave me some pain medication, told me to put a heating pad on my cheek and said she'd call her dentist in the morning.

At 11AM this morning, I walked into the dentist's office and said "Hi, I'm Working Girl One, my mom called this morning...". I felt like a kid. I didn't have the correct insurance card or information, which made me feel stupid, and I was told that they'd have to bill me. I sat down in the funny looking chair and got an x-ray of the area with pain.

It was not my wisdom teeth. It was a cavity. A monstrous cavity. Practically the size of my entire tooth. The dentist was a older man and the look he gave me made me want to run out of that room and go hug my mommy. But he wasn't done. He then informed my that the cavity was so large that I'm going to need a root canal! I pretty much started crying right then and there, which I will blame on the lack of sleep. Thankfully, he was nice enough to prescribe me some Vicodin for the pain.

The tears weren't just due to lack of sleep, I am truly disappointed with myself. I have health and dental insurance so I have no excuse for slacking when it comes to my health. I'm also scared shitless of my upcoming root canal. I have an extremely low tolerance for pain, so it should be interesting. I guess this is what I get for not being a responsible adult and taking care of myself. There is nothing like a good kick in the ass to get it into gear.

Oh, and Working Girls, I beg you not to tell me any horror stories of any root canals you've had. They will scare me and probably drive me to just pull the tooth out myself with pliers. But if there is any info you think I need to know, please share. I'm terrified.

Merry Christmas Co-Workers...Oh, Wait I'm the Only One Here

So since I just began working at my new job about four weeks ago, I obviously have not accrued any time off, hence I am still working my 8-5. 

And it's like a ghostland. I don't remember it being like this last year, but then again I had to travel to get home for Christmas, so I'm assuming I took some time off. Anyway, point being is that I am alone in the office. The phones haven't been ringing, almost everyone has taken the whole week off to celebrate (and eat cookies and open presents), and I have managed to get a lot of work done. 

Since a lot of my work is getting done and I have less projects to work on, I have taken to spreading my own holiday cheer through diversions on the Internet. So if you, like myself, are holed up in a cubicle wishing that you were drinking eggnog and watching It's a Wonderful Life on repeat instead, read on because the Christmas cheer is on it's way. 

Bejeweled - The Holiday Edition 
This took up a good chunk of my afternoon today. I am a big fan of MSN and Yahoo games online, though I don't usually play them at work but rather on a lazy Sunday morning. But today, I stumbled upon this little gem that is the holiday edition of Bejeweled. Just switch out the jewels for snowmen, Christmas trees, and candy canes! 

We Love Holiday Sweaters
What is Christmas without an ugly sweater party? I fell in love with this website because it is all about being tacky and making your own Mr. Rogers-esque, scratchy woolen sweater. And even if you're not feeling creative, just window-shopping and seeing other people's creations is well worth perusing this site. 



Elf Yourself
Buddy the Elf here, what's your favorite color? I love the movie Elf. I love Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. So why not insert my head onto an elves' body? Oh, go on, just go elf yourself. 



Drunk Santa Delivery
I'm not sure where my dad dredged this link up from. My guess is a colleague of a colleague of a colleague sent it to him. But please, just click this link. It's hilarious in a seriously cheesy way. It's a game where you have deliver presents for Santa before he gets too drunk to see the numbers on the elevator. Oh, and if you submit your highest score, you are entered to win a Wii! 

So happy clicking and a very merry Christmas from Working Girl!

Meeting Notes

Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

• First off, I have to mention that Working Girl was offered our first ever guest post! We were over-the-moon thrilled to be asked by The Invisible Student (one of our loyal and of our few male readers). Since WG1 had a huge event going on, I stepped up to the plate and wrote the post, which was posted a few weeks ago on The Invisible Student's blog. It's a good read for any of those who want to know about how WG1 and I met and how we started this sucker of a blog. Plus, The Invisible Student always has some great insight on a lot of topics we write about! So check out his blog!
  
  
  


• We suppose this can be construed as either a good thing or a bad thing, but we just found out that Bravo's The Rachel Zoe Project , which revolves around the life of stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe, was renewed for another drama and fashion-filled second season. If Brad does not come back, I refuse to watch. He is that show.

• Speaking of reality TV, we heard some online gossip revealing that Kelly Cutrone, one of our fave parts of The Hills, is going to be getting her own reality TV show. No idea what network picked it up, but Cutrone herself has described the show as being, "Wizard of Oz meets Stephen King meets 'Rhoda'." All we have to say to that is yikes.
  


• Since entering my new job, I've tried to not slack off. But with the holidays coming up and getting all settled after my move, you can probably guess how that is going. While surfing the web, I found this article on work habits that help you get the job done. My favorites include taking breaks, ignoring voicemail, and goofing off. Yea, it got my interest too.

• We have to say that we love this new trend of "celebs" interning. It is a superb idea. Who says that your connections should get you the corner office? Not only is Kanye West planning on interning in London with a fashion design company, but model and heir to the Hearst dynasty, Lydia Hearst is interning at BlackBook. And famous hockey player, Sean Avery, has been interning at Vogue. I'd like a grande low-fat chai tea latte stat. Oh, and can you rap me a verse of Flashing Lights before you go? Kthanks.
  


• And my favorite link from the week - an article on the 10 worst employees of 2008. These stories are out of this world crazy - like the deputy coroner who stole $325 worth of gift cards from a dead body she examined and the county baliff who forgot to transport a woman back to jail causing her to be without food, water or a toilet for four days. This article will make you feel amazing about your performance at work!
  
  

We hope you Working Girls have a great weekend!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

It took me two hours to get home from work last night because of a snowstorm.

(Yes, this post will be me whining about the weather. My apologies in advance if I sound over-the-top annoying.)

The first thing people usually say to me after I announce that I just moved back to Chicago after living in New York for a few years is, "Well, you moved just in time for the bad weather." Thanks everyone, I am aware. Unfortunately, fate didn't allow me to move when the weather was crisp and light and perfect and instead fate granted me winter.

Chicago winters are notriously horrible. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, so I have seen my fair share of blizzards, sleet storms, and temperatures so low that school was cancelled. But it's like I had brainwashed myself about these past occurences. Like they never happened. Because I would often hear people in my old office whine about how they had to go to Chicago for a conference in the middle of winter and how they would never survive. I would fight back. 'It's no colder in Chicago than it is in New York,' I would say and snicker. 'New Yorkers, they don't know anything,' is what I would think to myself.

I take back everything I said (and thought). It's effing freezing here. And it makes for one hell of a frigid commute in the mornings. So much colder than New York, in fact, that I had to buy a new coat because the ones I had been wearing in NYC did not suffice. Here is my new Patagonia coat. It is ferociously warm and toasty.

I think I have adapted (back) fairly well to the cold and snow. Unless you ask my dad, who would say I have complained way too much for my own good.

There are some things that come back to me. Like the fact that I remembered that I'm a klutz. Many side stories of twisted ankles could be added here, but I will refrain. How did I remember? When my morning commute, which consists of a five-block walk to my bus stop resulted in me falling on my ass. I looked like a fool. But a warm fool.

I also remembered that walking in the snow is an art form. If there is a lack of salt, one must do a shuffle through the snow. Picking up your feet will get you nowhere, so don't try it.

Also, weather is not a good excuse to be late in the Midwest. Everyone here is used to it. Snow does not deter anyone from getting anywhere. Most of the people in my new office live in the suburbs. And they were all in work yesterday and today. Despite the 6+ inches of snow we got last night.

And the new piece of info I learned during this past snowstorm, do not under any circumstances, take the bus home. I sat on Lake Shore Drive for approx. 45 minutes. Pain in my tush.

Not to mention I have to leave my house earlier to avoid delays...which means waking up earlier. How I loathe the mornings. And commuting.

Whine complete.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's hard for me to believe that only two years ago I was a senior in college, drinking studying my way through finals and then making the drive to Jersey to spend four weeks at home during semester break.

This is my second holiday season as a Working Girl. I still haven't felt like I've gotten out of the routine that has been embedded into my system since I was five: start school, fall break, school, Thanksgiving, school, Christmas/semester break, school, winter break, school, spring break, summer and start all over again.

Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I went to Massachusetts for (my first) Hanukkah and to visit his family and friends. I had Friday and Monday off and because the office has been so slow lately, I didn't feel the need to check in. It felt like a real vacation celebrating a holiday, having home-cooked meals and relaxing. With his brother and cousin home from college, I kind of felt like I was on break too.

My boyfriend, for the past two years, has taken most of his vacation during the month of December for this very reason. He likes to have his own semester break. While I constantly beg him to take some time off in late winter or early spring so we can go someplace tropical (because in my head we can totally afford that), I understand why he likes December vacation so much.

Next week, I'm using three of my vacation days and I'll be off for the whole week. Some other magazines at my company get the week off for free. Not us, our publisher loves to work. I'll go home, celebrate Christmas with my family and enjoy a mini-break from work. My own little semester break.

I just wonder if I'll ever get used to this lifestyle, working five days a week with only 15 vacation days (I'll go from 10 to 15 days in 2009). Something tells me that I may not.