by Solange Lopes | Oct 28, 2016 | Career
Our Coffee Break feature discusses everyday issues or topics faced by women (and men) at work. Think of it as your daily chat with your work BFF…
So….Halloween is right around the corner, and I wonder if I should celebrate at work. If so, how can I pull a fun Halloween celebration in the office without losing my professional edge? Or should I skip it altogether, and save the festivities for after-hours?
My $0.05: Ok, so for those of us who are really into Halloween, it can be a bit depressing not to be able to enjoy the holiday at work. While many offices are OK with employees dressing up, many others are just not. And if you’re concerned about losing your professional edge in your favorite Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman costume, you can always:
Check in with your manager and HR first.
Before you make any plans (or drop any of your plans), make sure to check in with your manager and/or HR first. This could be particularly helpful if you’re planning to organize any team-based or group activities.
If You’re Going to Dress Up, Use Your Best Judgment!
If your office code allows for employees to dress up, the only rule really you should follow to make sure you keep your professional reputation intact is: Don’t wear anything embarrassing! As a guide, use this infographic from Refinery 29 to decide if your costume is offensive or not. And while you’re at it, why not make it a group/team thing? Here are 14+ office group Halloween costumes you can experiment with…even if it’s last minute!
Have Some Desk-Decorating Fun!
If you’re worried about your professional reputation at work, or didn’t find a decent enough costume for the office (or if you’re still deciding), how about having some wild fun decorating your surroundings? Plastic spiders, cobwebs, and other fun apparatus can add a nice festive touch to the day too…Short on inspiration? Brit+Co suggests 17 Halloween decor ideas for your cubicle or office.
Do it Potluck Style!
Why not release all that pent-up Halloween spooky energy into some fun and delish food? Organize a potluck within your team, and assign a special dish to each team member. No time for planning a food extravaganza? Well, bring your own spooktacular disk (here’s some inspiration for Halloween-themed food)!
Candy It Up!
After all, everyone’s favorite part of the holiday is all the candy we get to eat! So bring plenty of candy to share with your team and the entire office. Encourage the rest of your team to bring in some sweets to share and celebrate too! Oh…, and check out Thrillist‘s selection of 20 best Halloween candy to make your candy corner the best in the office!
What do you think? Is it OK to celebrate Halloween at work without losing your professional edge?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 28, 2016 | Career
Suede flap cross body bag – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our Weekend Wear feature presents a selected piece of clothing or an accessory for corporate and business sisters to sport on week-ends. Please note this post may contain affiliate links.
Ever wondered how to combine the need to carry your essentials around while still looking cute on-the-go? This suede flap cross body bag from The Limited may just be your answer. I love the clean and simple design of this bag, not to mention the neutral color, that makes it perfect to pair with just about anything…Bonus: it’s on sale for $39.99 at The Limited!
I also like this Sole Society “Thalia” number in faux leather from Nordstrom for casual week-ends. For a sophisticated night out, I wouldn’t mind this Rebecca Minkoff Love Jumbo from Saks Fith Avenue quilted leather beauty, or this Kate Spade New York Cedar Street compact version! And for anyone in the mood, why not splurge on this gorgeous Chloe caramel smooth leather Drew mini-crossbody bag from Barneys New York?
Which one is your fave?
Happy Weekend!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 28, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news roundup, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- The US elections are only a matter of days, and it’s hard to avoid talking about it at work… The Lindsey Pollak blog has an awesome final election-at-work survival guide (and you can check out my thoughts on talking politics at work too);
- Speaking of the elections, Ellevate Network has an interesting outlook on how they could affect hiring;
- If you thought the world’s on the brink of achieving gender equality, think again! Forbes Woman lists 7 important facts to know about the global gender parity gap;
- Thinking of changing careers? Get inspired by Business Insider’s list of 19 successful people who prove it’s never too late to start over;
- Love TED Talks? Corporette lists a few of the best ones for working women;
- Sallie Krawcheck of Ellevate Network writes this compelling article about how celebrating women’s success can actually hurt their careers;
- Entrepreneur lists 20 habits that could be preventing you from becoming a millionaire;
- The holidays will be here before we know it! Forbes suggests 10 dress styles perfect for any occasion;
- Not sure what to do with all that leftover pumpkin? David Lebovitz has this great (and easy) pumpkin jam recipe.
Last but not least, enjoy this Business Insider video to find out exactly what a hiring manager scans when reviewing resumes:
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 26, 2016 | Career
Our Coffee Break feature discusses everyday issues or topics faced by women (and men) at work. Think of it as your daily chat with your work BFF…
So if you happen to have a gym on your work premises, or even nearby, that you could use either before work or during your lunch hour, would you exercise in between your work hours? Or would you rather save your fitness routine for the times you’re nowhere near work?
My $0.05: There are pros and cons to exercising on your work premises or at a site really close to work in between your work hours.
Among the pros, is the fact that you get to save time and fit in your exercise routine during your workday. And you also have access to a gym on a daily basis.
But unless you’re Beyoncé and “woke up like this”, you know there are quite a few variables that go into looking the part at work. And puffy, sweaty hair with a side of running mascara, not exactly part of it!
I personally think if you have the right infrastructure at work (or at the gym), including fully functioning showers, lockers, etc, and you’re organized enough to have all your equipment and grooming supplies on hand, then it may work for you! You may also have to make sure you can have enough time to devote to a full workout, whether it’s before work or at lunchtime.
I have to admit, I tried it but couldn’t quite fit in enough time to work out, get presentable for work and be at my desk without losing my edges in the process! But that’s just me…
What has your experience been with exercising between work hours?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 26, 2016 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
When my daughter stepped away from an incoming soccer ball while playing as goalkeeper so she could straighten up her hair and keep from sweating, I realized two things:
1. She inherited my exercise-adverse genes.
2. She is my daughter.
Exercise has never been one of my favorite activities and I wasn’t surprised my baby shared the same trait. I’ve had to come to terms very early on myself with the fact that I kinda…ahem, hate exercise. The whole concept with visions of sweaty bods and huffing and puffing, makes me run to the closest bakery (or cheese shop, whatever’s nearest).
Yet as I (gracefully) age and pile on the responsibilities, laundry and those pounds that stick to your thighs, I’m learning to compromise. Plus the whole fitting into cute clothes, staying awake at work and trying to stay alive and healthy thing…
So for all the anti-exercise, super-busy-but-still-want-to-look-and-feel-good sisters (and dudes) out there, here are four tried-and-true ways to get your fitness on without all that “exercise” pressure:
- Trick your brain: This may sound unethical at best, but one’s gotta do what one’s gotta do. Which also means picking times and schedules that allow you to get your fitness on before your mind actually realizes what you’re doing. For me, it means taking the 5:45am boot camp class, or getting on the elliptical at the crack of dawn. Oh, and let’s not forget about the occasional shoe-shopping reward too! Extra benefit: everyone else is asleep (including the little people who live in your house), and you may actually get some time to yourself!
- Think less time, more impact! Ok, after about a half-hour doing any kind of workout, my brain gets in overdrive mode. Which also means staring at the clock and looking for the nearest exit! What’s been working well for me lately, are the shorter, yet maximum impact, fitness routines now available. Think of kettlebell-based routines for instance, which can help you burn more calories in as little as 15 to 30 minutes!
- Do something fun! Who said all the steps you registered on your Fitbit while walking through Nordstrom during its annual sale don’t count as fitness? Do fun stuff, get out more, park your car further from the office! All of this counts as part of your fitness routine as well. Make it a habit, without thinking of it as “exercise”! Worst case scenario: you can always clean the house (major calorie burner)!
- Recruit supporting forces! Ok, if push comes to shove, you may have to get some allies! Join forces with some friends or co-workers to start a fitness routine together! It may be a simple walk around the block at lunchtime, or a group yoga class, as long as you motivate and keep each other accountable. Plus you can always get some Pinkberry afterwards…
What do you do to get your fitness even when you hate exercise? Please share your tips and tricks below.
The Corporate Sis.
