How to plan a successful event

Today I hosted a baby shower. As the guests were leaving, many of them gave me a hug and said, “This was really a lovely baby shower; one of the best I’ve ever been to.”
Well, thanks, but it was one of the easiest events I’ve ever planned. That’s not to say it didn’t come with [...]

The Complete Guide to Holidays at the Office

Oh, the holidays!
A time of joy for some; a time of frustration for others. Navigating through office politics, co-worker gift exchanges, and the holiday party can be tricky – especially for a young professional. This guide will address your burning holiday questions and provide advice for making it through the season unscathed (and unembarrassed).
Should you [...]

Replace these four outdated rules

Life is full of rules. Some of them we learn as children. Others we glean from experiences – both good and bad. Here are four rules — in four separate categories –  it’s time to update:
Fashion
Old rule: Never wear open-toed shoes in the winter.
New rule: When it gets cold outside, don tights with those cute [...]

The secret to good writing isn’t commas; it’s simplicity

When I taught English to college freshman with below average writing skills, I quickly realized that the problem wasn’t that my students were lazy or dumb or not trying. The problem was their writing had become too complicated. Way too complicated. (Yes, I know that’s a fragment.)
They had been trying so hard to add clauses [...]

Three simple tricks to avoid common event faux pas

Have you ever been so confounded by all the little rules at fancy events that you felt like ducking out early? Or, maybe you’ve been making some etiquette mistakes and not even known it. Whether we like it or not, etiquette is important in social situations, so it’s time to learn three quick tips:
Your [...]

You do care what other people think

Have you ever said, “I don’t care what anyone thinks about me.”?

I know I have, and I also know it’s a lie.

The truth is we do care what other people think about us. Why wouldn’t we? How others view us can make or break us. It’s how we get jobs, score promotions, make friends, and [...]

Lesson Learned: It’s ok to be goofy (as long as you’re being yourself)

My blogging style has been described as no-nonsense, down to business, and straight forward. This is not much different than how you might describe me if you knew me outside of my blog.
To be honest, I’m ok with this description. For the most part, it’s accurate. I do tend to be serious and pragmatic, ambitious [...]

How to be Unforgettable

You’re in a meeting and you suddenly get a great problem-solving idea. You immediately state your idea, which you think is pretty darn good, but the conversation keeps talking and eventually turns in a different direction. Then, someone else chimes in with the exact same idea you just provided five minutes ago. Everyone agrees that [...]

Jealousy, backstabbing, and gossip— Oh my!

This weekend I overheard the following conversation:
Woman #1: I didn’t like her from the moment I saw her.
Woman #2: I know what you mean. I read an article yesterday and someone from her high school said she was “shallow.”
Guess who they were talking about?
Sarah Palin.
That’s right. That’s how these two women were talking “politics.” Not [...]

Five things you should know if you’re young and trying to get to the top

Gen Yers are often ridiculed for their desire to get to the top fast. Most of us feel, however, that there is nothing wrong with being young and ambitious. But, if you’re making the choice to be on the fast track, be prepared; it’s not all fun and games:
1. It’s not easy to be in [...]