Burrito Fridays

For the past couple of months, I've been doing something completely different at work. My company is great about letting the staff explore different departments and areas of work. I feel really fortunate, because I'm really enjoying the experience.

There is one thing in particular that makes me feel like this role is a great fit and that, my friends, is Burrito Friday. 

source

Every week, one person from our small team buys burritos for everyone for breakfast. I should tell you that these are not breakfast burritos, but real, giant, greasy burritos. Like Filibertos, but without the horse meat and E. coli. 

The best part about Burrito Friday is how it makes Thursday afternoons so sweet. If you're like me, by the time Thursday rolls around, you're pretty much done with the work week. But for the past couple of months, Burrito Friday has seen me through it. 

We also have Blue Shirt Tuesday, but it's not nearly as delicious.

Business Appropriate

I work for a very conservative financial company and, up until a few months ago, the dress code was strictly business professional- meaning, every employee wore a suit every day. Luckily, they changed the dress policy to "business appropriate" before I was hired. Lucky, because I have only one suit & a tenuous relationship with dry cleaning. Also, lucky, because, who wants to wear basically the same thing every day?

Even so, I'm already bored with the limited work outfits I've put together the past several weeks. I need some new pieces, and I was feeling very lucky indeed to find my way to Ann Taylor's site.

I'm particularly partial to the dresses. Such a perfect blend between I-have-a-serious-job-with-serious-responsibilities and I-am-a-woman-with-fashion-needs.

 

Appropriately yours,

Ari

Traffic Remedies

My new job, while amazing beyond words, requires a 50-minute rush hour commute twice a day. I'm normally a rather civilized person, but there's something about bumper-to-bumper traffic that taps in to my inner beast. It's just so...dreary. To help combat this dreariness, I've thought up a list of things that I think might alleviate traffic-associated stress.

#1

Some happy jams.

Here is my playlist of mood lifting tunes:

1. Bend and Not Break by Dashboard Confessional

2. Chariot by Gavin DeGraw

3. Spinning by Jack's Mannequin

4. Dirt of Your Shoulders by Jay-Z

5. Float On by Modest Mouse

6. You'll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins

7. Bojangles by Pitbull

8. Show Me Everything You've Got by The Rocket Summer

9. This is Not an Exit by Saves the Day

10. Ruthless by Something Corporate

11. Spice Up Your Life by The Spice Girls

12. Island in the Sun by Weezer

13. Switch by Will Smith

#2

Delicious food.

With me, everything is better when food is involved. Getting home doesn't feel as urgent when you're already having a little snack. I think plump green grapes would perfectly fit the bill here. Promise to be careful when you eat while driving, though!

#3

A good imagination.

Whenever I get angry with the elderly driver in front of me who seems to have no earthly idea what is going on around him, I imagine that he is my grandpa or a friend of my grandpa. Almost immediately, my anger dissipates. When other drivers are veering in and out of lanes with nary a turn signal or seem to think their lives depend on not letting a single other car in front of them, I try to imagine all the times when my own driving acts may have looked selfish and irresponsible to others. Sometimes we just don't focus enough or we make silly mistakes when we're driving. If I can frame the situation well in my head, then my anger and impatience are more under my control.

#4

As much comfort as you can muster.

At my new company, the dress is pretty formal. When I'm sitting in my not-too-spacious car for an hour at the end of the day, the last thing I want is to feel constricted. I make an effort to make small adjustments to improve my comfort, like taking off my cardigan or untucking my blouse. The only person in the car is me and, at 5 o'clock on a week day, looking posh is the last thing on my mind.

Well, that's all I've thought of so far, but if any of you rush hour veterans have any tips for me, I'd certainly appreciate reading them!

*image from weheartit.com

Day One

"My greatest ambition is to have a career without becoming a career woman." 

- Audrey Hepburn

Today was my first day of work (read: orientation) at my new job. It felt good to be a productive member of society again after so much time off. I'm falling even more in love with my new company, and I'm excited to see what's in store for the next couple months of training.

I'm feeling a little self-indulgent (a 40 minute commute will do that to a girl!), so here is what I wore today:

First Day of Work by atmarsh featuring leather shoes

Sorry for the late post. I guess my time management skills are a little rusty!

Working Girl

see jane work

So, basically I was offered my dream job yesterday at 10AM, less than 24 hours after my second interview. Naturally, I accepted. And then I literally danced the morning away. 

This is the first time in probably ten years that I haven't had a single thing to worry about. Training starts February 22nd. 

Two months of guilt-free down time sounds perfectly divine to me.

Happy Friday, Friends!