by Solange Lopes | Nov 25, 2016 | Career
In this post, I’m rounding up the Black Friday sales for my favorite workwear brands. Check it out below!
- Ann Taylor is having a 50% off sale site wide;
- Loft is also offering sales up to 50% off;
- Nordstrom is having amazing deals on top women’s clothing brands + an extra 20% off on most select sales prices;
- The Limited is cutting its prices by 70% + Free Shipping (use code HOLIDAY);
- Neiman Marcus is offering 60% off its prices TODAY ONLY;
- Last Call is cutting prices 40 to 80% off TODAY ONLY;
- Bergdorf Goodman is hosting its women and men’s designer sale with discounts up to 40% off;
- Saks Fifth Avenue is holding its Designer Sale with price cuts up to 40% off + other promotional offers;
- Dorothy Perkins is discounting its merchandise up to 50% off;
- ASOS is slashing off all its prices by 20% off;
- Uniqlo is offering all kinds of promotions on cashmere sweaters and more;
- Topshop is offering up to 30% off on their shoes;
- Famous Footwear is giving away 15% off coupons over the Balck Friday Weekend + BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) + Free Shipping with code BLKFRI.
Happy Black Friday!
Cheers,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 23, 2016 | Make More Money
The holidays are known for being a time of big spending. Between hosting family and friends gatherings, buying gifts, and shopping for this, that and the other, it’s easy to blow your budget way more than you’d have initially expected.
Yes, it’s hard, and somewhat unrealistic, to avoid all the expenses that come with having loved ones and obligations of all kinds during the holidays. However, there are a few things you can do to save money while still enjoying this time of year:
Forget Budgeting, Make A Plan Instead.
To many, the word “budgeting” sounds just like “dieting”, and has the exact same effect. The minute you think of dieting, you start seeing bread and cheese everywhere. And the minute you start thinking about budgets and spreadsheets with dollar signs everywhere, you start seeing “Buy” signs everywhere…
So if budgeting is not for you, and leaves you going over your budget every single time, make a simple plan instead. I pick what I call the “magic number”, which is the maximum amount of money I can spend during the holidays. Then I take all my credit cards out of my wallet, and freeze them. Yes, as in putting them in the freezer and watching them be covered in ice! This way, any expense outside of the plan and over the “magic number” will force me to wait and think twice about it…
Start a holiday Fund.
It could be as simple as setting aside an extra $50 from every paycheck. To make this easier, call your Payroll department and ask to have a certain amount of money automatically set aside every pay period and deposited into a separate account. You’ll be surprised how much money you’ll be able to save in a short amount of time!
Time to Cut Back!
List all your regular expenses and look them over to see which ones you can cut back on. Can you eat out once a week instead of twice or three times a week? How about bringing your lunch to work instead of spending daily on food? Or making coffee at home, and saving on your morning Starbucks latte?
Pinpoint the expenses you can cut back on, and start saving. Any money you save can go to your holiday fund, so you can spend more where you need to.
Make a Priority List.
When it comes to gifting your loved ones, it can be tempting to spoil everyone around you! But it’s also the best way to go over your magical spending number. List everyone you’re planning to get a gift for, and rank them by order of priority.
Your spouse, children and close family members come first. For those who come lower (no offense) on your list, use creative ideas to come up with thoughtful, yet inexpensive gift ideas. How about writing a thank-you card to your office buddies instead of buying them all a gift? Or making homemade cookies wrapped in a holiday-themed plastic bag for the neighbors? Get your creative smarts working, or just log into Pinterest and borrow some great, inexpensive gift ideas!
Make It A Potluck!
Hosting a family gathering can be extremely expensive. From the decoration to the cost of food, the spending can easily get out of control. But instead of taking it all on your frail shoulders, why not share the wealth, and turn holiday events into fun potlucks instead?
Everyone could bring a dish and make it easier and less expensive for you to host. It’s also a great way to have your family members show off their culinary skills while being more engaged in the process as a whole.
There’s An App for That.
Don’t discount the power of technology and powerful apps to help you save a buck or two over the holidays! One of my favorite money-saving apps during the holidays (and really all year-round) is Mint, which is a comprehensive finance tool that lets you see the status of all your bank accounts and spending, while helping you create budgets and achieve saving goals.
Ebates is also a great app to save money with coupons and online deals, and get cash back for shopping too! The Ibotta app also functions on the same principle as well. Another one of my absolute faves is the Red Laser app, which lets you scan any product with your smartphone’s camera, while it checks thousands of retailers to find you the best price.
What other tips can you recommend to save money during the holidays?
Happy Holidays!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 23, 2016 | Career
Wear to Work: Pleated Ponte Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our Wear to Work feature showcases a piece of attire for business and professional women.
If you ask me, the new LBD is the LRD (Little Red Dress). Nothing says “power dress” like a red dress that can literally take you from desk to wine in a cinch. Like this J. Crew pleated ponte dress, in a breathable and comfortable knit fabric.
Love the easy, flattering silhouette of this dress that you can slip on in less than 3o seconds and move around in for the entire day. The long sleeves are perfect for the Fall/Winter season, while the pleats add a touch of chic sophistication to the dress. It’s $128 at J. Crew.
As alternatives, I also like this resume dress, also from J. Crew (although only available in Tall sizes). Or this office-ready Ellen Tracy pleat ponte fit and flare dress from Nordstrom, available in emerald and red.
Petite sizes.
Michael Kors petite sheath dress- Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Speaking of LRDs, this Michael Kors petite ponte sheath dress from Macy’s is your instant ticket to sophistication with its subtle flounce hem and easy silhouette. Similar to this, this Ann Taylor drop-waist flounce dress is both feminine and flattering.
I also love the asymmetrical waist and flattering silhouette on this Ellen Tracy seamed ponte sheath dress from Nordstrom.
Plus Sizes.
Ponte-Knit-Plus-Size-A-Line Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
My favorite LRDs in this ponte sheath dress include this beautiful A-line number from Old Navy, available in sizes 1X through 4X.
I also really like this Eloquii color block peplum dress, available in sizes 14 through 28.
Eloquii Plus Size Colorblock Peplum Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Which one is your favorite?
Cheers,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 23, 2016 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, or attending a Thanksgiving family gathering, you know that this time of year always gets busy. Which also means any help you can get is more than welcome, especially when you’re running around at the last minute trying to make the traditional family dessert, or figure out how to entertain your guests…
This is where technology, especially apps, come in to play. As a busy working woman, you can now use that smartphone you’re carrying around everywhere as a virtual Thanksgiving assistant. Here are 7 apps you can use to pull off the best, and most stress-free, Thanksgiving ever:
This free app will help you plan you your Thanksgiving Day menu in a swipe, or find amazing recipes to make and bring to any gathering. From meats to desserts to side dishes, you can find a large selection of delicious recipes to try. If you’d rather go by theme, then you can check out the menu section for recipe ideas grouped under Southern or Modern dishes for instance.
Here’s another free app that collects all the great recipes from your favorite Food Network stars. Even better, it has a whole section for Thanksgiving, including meal plans from renowned chefs like Giada, Sunny Anderson and Bobby Flay. Video tutorials are even included, and there’s even a section for leftovers!
Not sure which wine to pair with which Thanksgiving food? There’s an app for that, and it’s called Hello Vino. The app suggests different types of wines for different types of Thanksgiving foods, including turkey, ham and even side dishes.
Worried about making lasting memories of this Thanksgiving? Try this free app, which offers 15 cute holiday-themed photo frames to place in your pictures. It’s a wonderful way to make lasting memories, while impressing your guests in the same token…
Happy Thanksgiving Holiday Decoration Ideas
Running out of ideas to decorate your home for Thanksgiving? There’s an app for that. With more than 20,000 pictures to inspire you, you can turn your home into a holiday-themed abode in no time.
Is your family more into going out to eat for Thanksgiving? No problem. This free app helps you not only reserve and manage restaurant reservations, but also have access to hotels all around the world. You can turn this whole holiday thing into a delicious getaway in no time! Bonus: the app provide you with rewards too!
Want to send someone a Thanksgiving card? This app has plenty of choices to pick from. You can now send a quick card to anyone to remind them you’re thinking of them on the holidays…
Which Thanksgiving apps have you been using?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 21, 2016 | Career
The first business coach I ever worked with had me started with this gratitude exercise. I was to invest in a gratitude journal and log in at least 10 things I was grateful for every day. Which after I was done logging in all my family, friends, health, shoe collections, and other blessings I was thankful for, left my career up for grabs…
Sure, most of us are thankful to have a job that pays the bills and even allows for the not-so-occasional shoe shopping spree. But unless you’re working the job of your dreams (which in this case gets upgraded from J-O-B to an exercise in self-fulfillment), expressing more than basic gratitude for your 9-to-5 may seem daunting…
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“The more grateful you are about something, anything, the more abundance you create around it in your own life!”, was my coach’s take on the whole career gratitude thing. In other words, if you want to improve your career, you must start by being thankful for where you’re at professionally. Regardless of whether you think you’d much rather be hiking the Himalayas or translating the Thesaurus in Latin, than writing that hundred-page long report…
Easier said than done when your “work cup” is running over (in terms of to-do’s and deliverables that is)…Or when you’re facing challenges with your team or boss. Or just dreaming about a totally different career as you’re parking in your assigned spot in the morning. Or even because of that long overdue vacation you haven’t yet taken this year…
The point is, it’s not just about uttering a few thank you phrases here and there, or even passing out some of your leftover candy from Halloween as a (sweet) token of appreciation…It’s really about understanding the power of gratitude in your life and career…Think of it as a muscle, the more of it you practice, the stronger it becomes. And the stronger it becomes, the better whatever you’re grateful for becomes…Kinda of the gift that keeps on giving…
As Thanksgiving is approaching and tradition has it to throw some thanks in the Good Fortune basket of our lives, your career should be included in the mix too…Whether you’re highly satisfied with your current job and want to scream it out loud for everyone to hear… Or you’re daydreaming of escaping to Maui, alone…
And before you start rolling your eyes at me, here’s a quick reality check on why giving thanks may actually just be what your career needs right now (in addition to you putting down that smartphone):
You’ve got a job which pays you money you can invest in doing what you love. You’re welcome.
So here…That paycheck you earn every couple of weeks or every month is allowing you some financial freedom to enjoy what you really love. Whether it’s spending time with your family, go kayaking in the Great Lakes, or fund that side hustle of yours, most of the activities you do on the side require money. Having a day job allows you to earn that money, while having some financial peace of mind in the process.
Looking for a change? Sure. But in the meantime, appreciate the fact that you don’t have to stay up all night wondering how to pay the electric bill…And feel free to enjoy life and work on bettering yourself and your career, minus the money headaches and financial stress…
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Working with other humans is challenging. Learn from it. You’re welcome.
One of the common misconceptions around work is that it’s not really the work that makes work challenging, but rather the people. Well, isn’t that the point?
Seriously, if work didn’t involve people, then it wouldn’t really be work…Whether you’re selling products, advocating for a cause, or writing the next great American novel, most likely, you’ll have other humans involved…Challenging? Yes. Filled with opportunities to learn and grow? You bet.
Think of how many learning opportunities you actually have when working within a team at your current job. From learning to network, whether formally or informally, to learning the art of negotiation and compromise, you can take a wealth of knowledge from your current job to your future self, business or dream.
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Got career setbacks? They’re here to teach you a lesson. So stop and give thanks.
If you ask me, failure is the one single most powerful motivator to success. There’s nothing like having to pick your face up off the floor to teach you a lesson or two about breaking your own and others’ barriers to achievement…
What your current job is teaching you through the setbacks you may be encountering, is to build the tools you need to beat those roadblocks in your way. Without those setbacks, you wouldn’t be ready for the promotion you’re expecting, or the business you’re striving to build, or even this career change you’ve been considering. So stop and give thanks for the great tips you’re learning on the way to where you’re going…
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Not sure how to be more thankful at work? Here are a few suggestions:
Start or keep a gratitude journal.
Grab that notebook laying around on your office desk, open the first page, and write on top: “Gratitude Journal”, with your name on the side. This is the beginning of a new journey for you…
I know you may be rolling your eyes but now, but take five minutes each day to write at least five things you’re thankful for, including around your job. Don’t think, don’t rationalize it, just do it. Every.single.day.
It takes three weeks to build a habit. Do this for three weeks, and watch your life and career change…
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Say thank you to someone at work.
Whether you just walk over to a colleague’s desk, or send them an email, or go one step further and buy a nice thank you card, take the time to say thank you. Someone may have helped you with a project, taken some responsibilities off your pile of work, or just said a kind word in your favor. Acknowledge it and say thanks.
Even better, say thank you to someone who may not be getting any thanks for what s/he does. Someone like the janitor, or that security guard who signs you in every time you forget your badge…
It’s not just about making someone else feel good. What you get out of it is that satisfaction and fulfillment of making a difference. And just that is taking your career to the next level…
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Show appreciation to your team.
How about bringing some cookies to your team once in a while? Or organizing a team event? Find ways of showing your appreciation to your team. Not only does it bring morale up, it’s also helps you re-discover the purpose of work and your mission as a whole…
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How do you think being thankful for your career will improve it?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
