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Look BookView e-Notes: Current e-Notes:November 21, 2008 It's Always a Matter of Time
When time is of the essence, you'll want to keep track of it in style. Here's a gathering of affordable (well, sort of...) designer watches, one of which may be well worth your time. Be at the front of the line to don this new Michael Kors Turquoise Link Watch. The re-constituted turquoise inlays surrounded by Swarovski crystals make this unique piece timeless. Time to walk on the wild side with a Kenneth Jay Lane leopard print timepiece. What a deliciously dangerous combination of leather and gemstones. Skip from the board room to the bar for after-hours drinks in this Dolce & Gabbana Black Rhinestone timepiece. With a black mother of pearl dial, this is the optimum blend of fashion and class. The Coach Mercer Tank Watch in stainless steel with the Coach signature pattern is a real beauty. Is it a bracelet, or is it a watch? Only you will know. Experience uncommon elegance with this Michael Kors Tortoise Shell Bangle timepiece. With a gold clasp, light champagne and white dial, this one could be the perfect fit for you. “I speak two languages - Body and English.” November 20, 2008 On the Case: Cosmetic Cases with Style
Each morning, you spend some serious time getting dressed, carefully ensuring that each ensemble is perfectly matched, coordinated, and accessorized. You carry a briefcase and handbag explicitly chosen for their polished, professional, and totally elegant designs. So how is it then that your makeup is trapped in that messy, lipstick-smeared junky old cosmetic bag? Get with it, girlfriend, and treat your beauty booty right with a stylish cosmetics case. They're great for on-the-go touch-ups, super-organized, and well, just plain pretty to look at. Just like you. Stephanie Johnson ML Traveler in Luxembourg: This beige and gold brocade print lends this makeup case a regal touch. Abba Dabba Bags Divided Cosmetic Bags: You'll love the bold prints of Abba Dabba's slim-and very affordable-makeup bags. Give Metallic Round Vanity Case: This sleek metallic case exudes pure glamour. Toss Designs Menlo Corduroy Vanity Tote: Known for their vivid animal and paisley prints, Toss Designs again charms with this feminine, grosgrain-lined pink and chocolate brown ethnic pattern. Aspinal of London Hepburn Vanity Case: In the immortal words of Rachel Zoe, “I die.” This round purple mock croc case is the perfect fantasy bag for travel. “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald November 19, 2008 A New Way to Do Shoes
So here's our advice:
Yes, this holiday season is the perfect time to step into a new tradition - and put the shoe on the other foot. Always have been one to think on your feet, haven't you? (Okay, we're stopping now...) “Life's like a boomerang. The more good you throw out, November 18, 2008 A New Twist on Business Travel
Ladiesaway.com is a brilliant networking concept designed to connect women executives while they're away on business trips, both in the United States and abroad. Who hasn't been there? You're in a great new city, work is done for the day and you'd love some female company, perhaps someone to join you for a bite or to hit the hotel fitness center. (And if you make valuable business contacts, even better.) Once you join the website, which is currently free, you will have access to other members staying at the same or nearby hotels, as well as a database filled with recommendations on accommodations, shopping, restaurants and nightlife by city. Another key benefit of the service: preferential hotel rates for both business and leisure trips. Safety and security are taken very seriously, and all members' identities are verified (including confirmation from employers), so you can make friends and contacts without worry. Don't you just love (business) dating? “We don't want most of the business; we want it all.” - Ernest Gallo November 17, 2008 The Way Not to Wait in Airport Lines
And certainly not when you're spending an eternity winding your way through airport security lines. The truly virtuous make life easier for themselves and other travelers by taking advance steps to speed up security lines with the all new Clear. For a relatively small fee, this cool new airport service pre-screens travelers, allowing you to zip through specially designated security lanes. That means less time hassling with X-ray machines and more time shopping for the latest business bestsellers (and, okay, maybe People magazine... and a candy bar... or two). Get Clear for yourself, the whole office, or even give as a gift. Currently, Clear works in about 20 U.S. cities including the biggies -- New York, Atlanta, SF - click here to see participating airports. Not in your city yet? Oh, well. You know what they say: Good things come to those who wait (to not wait in lines). “You can have everything in life you want if you'll just help enough November 14, 2008 Glamour Hits the Small Screen
Funny...neither do we. These days, it's all about brown-bagging it at your desk, being careful to not splatter tomato soup on your monthly reports. A noon reservation at Chez Chichi may not be in the cards, but that doesn't mean you can't give your lunch break a touch of glamour. Just log on to Glamour.tv, a sister site for the legendary women's magazine of the same name. True to its name, Glamour.tv delivers short (e.g., lunch break-friendly) mini-episodes that cover everything from exclusive style trends (“The List”) to candid interviews with fun celebrity moms (“Moms Working It”) to fabulous beauty makeovers (“Beauty Wars”). In just a few minutes' time, you'll be up to date on everything that’s happening in the world of beauty and fashion, all without leaving the comfort of your broken-in office chair. Take that, Chez Chichi. “Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness November 13, 2008 Music for a Song
Satellite radio subscription: $12.95 per month. Your very own, fabulous, commercial-less music streaming radio station on Pandora: Absolutely free. At a time when belts are tightening, it's with a good dose of appreciation that we get something for nothing. Especially when that something is as horizon-widening as Pandora. The service plays music specifically suited to your taste -- and doesn't charge you a dime for it. Start by picking a band (or better yet, a particular song) you adore, and it begins lobbing other catchy tunes at you. Sort of like that edgy, lyrical boyfriend you used to have. If you're like us, you'll discover at least one new, dazzling artist a day. When Pandora plays something you don't like, click the “thumbs down” icon with brutal honesty, so it can refine the station for you. Really, it's not just free. It's downright priceless. “Love is not a matter of counting the years...But making November 12, 2008 Classic World Changers
In fact, there are thousands of (regular) women who are creatively, stubbornly, relentlessly giving back to their communities every day. And never end up in People maga-zine. But thanks to Traditional Home and their “Classic Woman Awards” program, remark-able, regular women are getting some proper recognition and long-overdue press. For four years now, the Traditional Home Classic Woman Awards has honored women who have a strong sense of self - and have used that internal compass to drive signifi-cant change in their neighborhoods, communities, and the world. 2008 award recipients were honored at a luncheon in NYC this past Monday. Read their inspiring stories here. It's good to be a woman, isn't it? “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) November 11, 2008 The Upper Crust: A Get Ahead Plan for Thanksgiving
And you've got...a major case of...domestically-challenged-itis. Hey, who can blame you? But hey, you can't be great at everything. Still, never one to show up empty-handed, you're searching for something that's a lot closer to making pie crust from scratch than picking up some store-bought side dish. For the perfect tasty holiday treat that will fit right into your carry-on, turn to sweet homemade seasonal breads from Breadwinner. The Breadwinner bakery delivers their scrumptious loaves wherever you live, which means there's just enough time to order a little something for Thanksgiving. So, will it be Houdini Zucchini or Papa Don't Peach? Shofar So Good Apple Honey? Or—hold on to your pilgrim hats—Better Than a Bubble Bath Mocha Chocolate Chip? Don't be silly. Get them all. And should Aunt Bernice and co. get the impression that you've made the breads yourself, well, your secret is safe with us. “Life itself is the proper binge.” - Julia Child November 10, 2008 Less Stress - Your High-Tech Safety Net
Mozy.com may not know much about men or shoes, but they can help you with the latter. Because accidents—fires, crashed hard drives, a latte perched precariously near your iBook—can and do happen, Mozy helps keep your data safe and sound with its online backup system. Here's how it works: Create an unlimited backup MozyHome account (for just $4.95 a month), then select the precious files (Outlook emails, vacation photos, your iTunes stash) you can't live without. Mozy's software quickly stores backups using an encrypted, hacker-proof system, while letting you set a schedule so your back-ups run on automatic pilot. No fuss, no stress, no pesky cds cluttering your desk drawers, and, most importantly, no freaking out while some 16-year-old tech wiz tells you that your hard drive has met its maker. “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” November 7, 2008 Style Alert - Gloves to Love
Signing off on important documents, sealing the deal with a firm handshake, pinging eight billion emails a day, bringing that latte to your lips for a much-needed boost. So why not put those hands in the spotlight - and simultaneously up your style quotient - by slipping into the season’s hottest accessory: gloves. We know you have no intention of returning to the days when women typed up memos while wearing pristine white gloves. But won’t it be a blast to stroll into the office flaunting a fashionably elegant leather pair? “Step aside (boys). I (and my success-generating hands) have arrived.” A few to choose from: Portolano cincilla grey long leather gloves will have them climbing the walls to do business with you. Practical types can’t go wrong with Banana Republic’s stitched leather gloves, which are affordable, sophisticated, and timeless. Available in violet, dark brown, orange, and black. Kenneth Cole New York rhinestone cuff gloves in black are a surefire way to get anyone’s attention. Shake up the place with these Acne Jeans long leather gloves in Moroccan blue. If you really want to get pulses racing, Guanti python gloves are a must-have splurge. This mysterious and high fashion pair will have the fellas wrapped around your little finger —in no time. “Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater November 6, 2008 The Talk Is Heating Up
Why is it then that so many people try to start a conversation with (dull, boring) bland questions? To ensure you're always at the top of your exchange, here's a cute little cube to help you bone up on titillating queries: TableTopics. Each of these thematically named cubes, 12 in all, comes with 135 ice-breakers, such as: What was the most ridiculous but very cool fashion trend you followed? Do you see most moral situations as black and white? What remains undone that you have wanted to get done for years? Of course Table Topics will be useful for dinner or cocktail parties. But think outside the cube, and imagine what they'll do for those (snoozer) typically lackluster networking events. May you never again have to endure one of those go-nowhere small talk occasions that threatens to suck all the oxygen out of the room. “Don't follow your dreams; chase them.” - Richard Dumb November 5, 2008 Extreme Productivity Makover
And, of course, you're hustling from one meeting to the next all day, with zero time to write anything down. Solution: A personal assistant who follows you from place to place, typing as you dic-tate, then sending tidy little notes to you by email. Marvelous, right? What? No room in the budget for a personal assistant? Fine. We'll go to Plan B. Sign up for Copytalk.com. Copytalk allows you to use your cell phone to dictate unlimited memos, record meeting notes, and listen and dictate email. A scribe takes down each dictation, converts it to text and delivers it via email. Now for a monthly fee (less than what you spend on those specialty lattes), your every to-do, thought and inspiration can be captured before it slips away. Extreme productivity. It's a beautiful thing. “Never put off till tomorrow what you can avoid November 4, 2008 It's Up to You to Shop
Good you: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Shopping now? Really? You've heard about the recession, right? This is hardly the time for willy-nilly shopping. Naughty you: Look, Goody-Two-Shoes, if everyone acts that way, we'll be stuck in Recession Land forever. Besides, this is Portero.com we're talking about. Good you: ??? Naughty you: (Sigh.) It's like eBay, but stocked entirely with chic, luxury items. Cartier watches, Tiffany eternity rings, Blahnik slingbacks, even Picasso etchings. You can't throw a Steuben glass without hitting a good deal. They'll even auction your unwanted goods for you -- for a small fee. Good you: Naughty, I'm really warming up to your philosophy that someone has to shop to get the economy going again. Naughty you: Thanks. Now, if you don't mind, Portero and I have a little business to do. “Behind every good man, there is a good woman. And behind every good November 3, 2008 Three Essentials For Successful Standing (in Line to Vote)
Well, get ready, girlfriend, because unless you've already voted -- or sent in your absentee ballot -- come tomorrow, chances are you'll be lined up with the rest of us. But, because you're so clever and smart (and you read Uptown Scoop), you'll be perfectly prepared to hang around for as long as it takes. Three steps to take today that will make waiting tomorrow oh-so-bearable: Step 1: Go ahead and buy those cute little flats you saw last week. Everyone knows a stylish, er, uh, comfortable pair of shoes is essential to being on your feet for any length of time. Step 2: Might as well grab that great bag you saw, too. You'll need it to pack plenty of snack items - preferably chocolate, l-o-t-s of chocolate, clinically proven to elevate the mood. Step 3: Download one of those bestseller audio books you've been meaning to read. For easy downloads to your iPod or MP3 player, go to any one of these fantastic sites: Happy standing, snacking, and audio-reading. Oh, yes -- and voting!“Ships in harbor are safe, but that's not what October 31, 2008 Click Here for Halloween Laughs
Today, may you be delighted by the giggles of little children as they trick-or-treat, and have a few snickers of your own by reading The Top 10 Reasons Trick-or-Treating is Better Than Sex. For laughter is the best candy of all. Happy Halloween from your friends at Uptown Scoop! “I'm not going to vacuum until Sears makes one October 30, 2008 Shawl We Dance? Cozy Cover-Ups for Cooler Temps
We took a poll, and, unfortunately, 4 out of 5 of your co-workers agree: enormous parkas just don't belong in the office, no matter how chilly you feel. (The hold-out was your intern, who didn't want to rock the boat.) Good news. We know you're cold, so we've rounded up a selection of totally stylish shawls and wraps to warm your icy self up -- without looking like you just hopped off a snowmobile. Drape yourself in one of these sleek, soft, and oh so snuggle-ables: Charter Club Velvet Wrap: Heading out on the town? Bring along this stunning and romantic black velvet shawl with beaded trim. New York & Company City Style Houndstooth Wrap: This touch of plaid is an excellent seasonal choice. Minnie Rose Ruffle Shawl: A ruffle trim gives this cashmere, oat-colored shawl a fun feminine kick. Also available in black. Virginia Johnson Peony Shawl: Wrap yourself up in the comforting embrace of this navy floral-printed shawl. Chico's Wilianna Shawl: Give your outfit a burst of color with this bold cobalt wrap with a silver and black embroidered design. “Cherish forever what makes you unique, 'cuz you're October 29, 2008 File in Style - Cool Document Boxes
And why does it only happen when you're in a huge hurry? Suddenly, you can't find a thing - except everything you don't need. Perhaps it's time to reduce that mountain of paper on your desk with a set of ultra-cool document boxes. Available in a variety of pretty shades and prints, you can mix and match to create a hip looking filing system. One box for lists, another for legal documents, a third for client files, and on and on... So when you can't bear to trash it, get busy and stash it. Before you know it, the desk fairy will reward you by returning your missing items -- and your peace of mind. Three selections to choose from: Semikolon Document Boxes from TheContainerStore.com - available in lime, pink and navy, these handy boxes have an attached lid (one less thing to lose). Storables.com offers document boxes in a variety of materials, including faux suede, leather and rattan. Pretty patterned document boxes from SeeJaneWork.com make a lovely addition to any space. “Your past is not who you are. It has prepared you October 28, 2008 Amuse Yourself at Work - The Hot New Way to Mix and Mingle
We must be innovative, productive and disciplined. Now. Ugh. Let's spend more time with our friends in the office discussing amusing, engaging and smart things. And to whittle down the time you spend gathering fodder, simply read “The Cheat Sheet,” a daily lineup of the 10-plus things worth talking about, by the editors of The Daily Beast. Then skip the rest. By the way, if your boss catches you, just share the recent study by M.I.T. researchers showing that workers who wander or chat with colleagues with measured regularity are more productive than those whose activity levels flit from high to low. Finally, scientific proof backing what we women already knew: it's good to mix and mingle at work. “You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination October 27, 2008 The Business of Getting Ahead in Business
Like when a mentor gives you that first bit of advice (soooo many mistakes averted), or a colleague works her a** off to make sure your big project comes off without a hitch (without pay or glory). If you're on the hunt for a place where it's all about women helping other women advance, then pay a visit to the Women@Work Network. Originally founded in 2002 as the go-to place for women returning to the workforce, it's now dedicated to keeping women at work through all of life's ages and stages. Bookmark it now if you're interested in:
“I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are October 24, 2008 Have Bag, Will Travel: Great Weekend Bags
Happy Weekend! Okay, so you usually don't clock-watch or give the end of the workweek that much fanfare (let's be honest-most of your Friday nights are spent watching “The Starter Wife” in yoga pants). But this weekend is different. This weekend you are GOING AWAY. Without using any of your vacation days, even. There's only one little hiccup. It's been so long since you've had a proper mini-vacation that your only luggage options are an enormous, much-too-big Samsonite, or a ratty gym bag that smells like sweat. What's behind Door Number Three? Why, these super-chic, perfectly sized weekend bags that are ready to give your getaway a glam kickstart. Cinda B The Weekender: Take only photos, leave only footprints? Fat chance. You always seem to leave with an extra stash of souvenirs that you can't-huff-quite-phew-squeeze into your suitcase. Instead, upgrade to this soft quilted duffle (available in pink, white, red, black, chocolate, and navy), which features a “big mouth” flap that expands to make room for your snow globes and tees. Flight 001 Canvas Travel Bag: Give your luggage some personality with this fun extra-large-polka-dot print. At 29" x 15" x 9", this bag is the perfect size for a weekend getaway. Kate Spade De Gaulle N/S Laptop Wheelie: The bad news: It'll be a working vacation for you. The good news: You can still travel in style with this slick patent (choose from black or green) leather wheeled suitcase, which boasts a padded compartment for your laptop. LeSportsac Dana Tote: By day it's a downtown-cool nylon tote with a patent finish. By Friday at 5pm, it's a smart, expandable weekend tote that can accommodate your travel essentials. Matt & Nat Kravitz Overnighter: This roomy tote (available in plum, gray, or dark brown) will appeal to eco-friendly travelers-it's made from surprisingly supple vegan leather. Because faux is the only way to go. “Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.” October 23, 2008 Prints Charming: Bold Printed Dresses Work for Work
And that's great. Your clothes, however, well...they might be a little too solid. Oh sure, a classic gray suit or little black dress is always in style, but there's a lot to be said for breaking up the monotony. And what better way to do that than with a dress swathed in an exciting print? But don't go reaching for the tie-dye just yet. To make this prints work for the office, it's best to a) choose dresses with some structure to them (e.g., sheaths rather than long A-line sundresses), and b) bypass garish, splashy prints (like huge polka-dots or Technicolor blooms) in favor of something more subdued, in a more muted or darker palette. Got it? Good. Now go get these: Banana Republic Short-Sleeve Paisley Shift Dress: This peacock-hued print will dazzle even the drabbest of offices. Liz Claiborne Circular Block-Print Sateen Shirtdress: Go garden party glam in this navy and teal floral print. Merona Liney Plaid Patterned Sweater Dress: So reasonably priced you won’t believe it, this graphic print won’t break the bank. The dress also comes in bold plaid and floral prints to help you take a breather from basic black. Maggy London Belted Stretch Satin Sheath: Winter florals are a top trend this season, and this dress’s black and white buds look terrific underneath a black blazer. Ann Taylor Tiger Jacquard Dress: Animal prints in the workplace?!? Relax—this dark chocolate print is tasteful and tamed enough for the office. Pair it with a camel cardigan and a brown leather belt for extra oomph. “Be different, stand out, and work your butt off.” - Reba McEntire October 22, 2008 Extreme Womentelligence: 80 Women You'll Want to Know
Applications flooded in from more than 3,000 women who had already initiated a project - a non-profit, a business, a public policy initiative, or a run for political office - and 80 winners were chosen. Now you can read all about the 80 women and their individual projects. Ranging in age from 18 to 69 and from all over the country, these women each have a dream and a burning desire to make that dream come true. Sound familiar? Of course it does. Therefore, you'll be happy to know Oprah.com has generously made available to you the same tools used at the 3-day leadership training. No time like the present... Click here to download the actual worksheets used at the 3-day leadership training. Click here for Skills to Go - 28 Ways You Can Put Your Dream to Work. Click here to read the inspiring feature article from O, The Oprah Magazine. “The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling October 21, 2008 Enlightenment to Go
And what do we find? An array of new and previously published business titles so big it makes our heads spin. And then, instead of making the happy acquisition we'd imagined, we stand in the aisle - looking overwhelmed - asking ourselves: “Exactly how is a smart girl supposed to stay enlightened (not to mention get-ahead-smart) when it's impossible to keep up with all the latest, greatest ideas?” Enter executive book summary services, like:
Not only will you be better informed, you'll have more time to shop for more important items. Like shoes. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind October 20, 2008 On The Job Hunt: Beyond Networking
Fine. We're really happy it works that way most of the time. But for some of us, even if we've networked our little hineys off, the doors of opportunity simply aren't swinging open as we'd imagined. Therefore, time to take a parallel path: Job boards. Every single job board you can find. Of course you'll be inclined to start with the usual suspects -- like Monster and Career Builder and YahooHotJobs. But there are lesser known job boards that are definitely worth working, too - like the ones we've listed below. Now with a few quick strokes on your keyboard, you can let approximately a jillion hiring managers know that you're AVAILABLE. Totally faster (and cheaper) than taking everyone you know to lunch...
“I dream for a living.” - Steven Spielberg
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Of course you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. It's only a matter of time. (And smarts - but of course you have no shortage of that.)
Let's get this straight.
No doubt, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, you're pondering the onset of another holiday season, and sensing the need to do some things differently than in years past.
Now this is one matchmaking service you will be psyched to join. That includes you, happy marrieds, happy committeds and happy singletons.
Patience is a virtue? Not for someone with your ambition and energy level.
Remember the good ol' days of hour-long lunches on the company's dime?
A new song on iTunes: 99¢
You know, you don't have to be Oprah or Angelina to give your all for others.
Dad's deep-frying the turkey. Aunt Bernice has got the pumpkin pie. Sis has the green bean casserole under control.
Carrie Bradshaw has taught us so, so many things. 
Your hands. Too often overlooked for the ultra-important role they play in your success.
A bold question is the fiery furnace that ignites a good, provocative dialogue.
Problem: Your brain simply isn’t roomy enough to store all the thoughts floating around in there -- your to-do lists, notes from yesterday's big meeting, that inspired answer to a vexing problem.
Naughty you: 8:20 a.m., time for a little online shopping. Oooh, yummy! A David Yurman champagne citrine ring up for grabs. And it's seriously lower than full price. Click --
If there's one thing that really gets to you, it's having to stand in line.
Bad news.
Is it just us, or do you feel like the desk fairy manages to hide things from you every now and then? (OK, more like every day.)
Everything feels so urgent.
When it comes to the business of getting ahead in business, there's nothing like getting a boost from another woman.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
Professionally, you're solid. Solid like a rock.
Back in March we told you about Women Rule!, the unprecedented leadership training contest that was to be hosted jointly by O, The Oprah Magazine and The White House Project. (The White House Project is the non-partisan non-profit group that works to advance women as leaders in all communities and sectors.)
From time to time we happily head off to the bookstore, expecting to be enlightened by the latest 'how-to-get-ahead' book.
OK. So something like a jillion percent of the people finding jobs are doing so through networking with people they already know.