Number 6!

Number 6 on my to-do list for 2011:

Be a grown up. (aka get my own place!)

Here's my story:

Like most northeastern gals, I did the requisite post-college drill: after graduating from a small northeastern college w/ an obscure degree (um, hello French Lit....), my pals and I moved ourselves into a TINY (but hip) Boston apartment, paid an exorbitant monthly rent and resigned ourselves to double beds in 10 x 10 rooms.

Fast forward a few years (during which time I moved into a mouse-infested but rocking 12 person house -- ask me about the legendary parties we used to hold) and I'm in TX, where everything is bigger and, some would argue, better. It's certainly a lot cheaper. Yet even with extra space and cheaper rents, I'm still living like a 23 year old. I don't own anything but bedroom furniture, a desk and about a million books. I still sleep on the same double bed I bought right after I graduated. My bed spread and sheets don't match, and don't even ask me about my bathroom towels....

Some people would call my room/style eclectic, but I don't think they'd mean it as a compliment.

So.... 2011 is gonna be the year I grow up, suck it up and do the things that most 28 year old college grads do. Like, get my own apartment. Buy a couch, a TV and a kitchen appliance other than a blender, martini glasses and cookie cutters. I don't know when I'm going to do this. I don't have a lease and my roommate Amy (shout out one of the best roomies EVER!) doesn't seem in a hurry to kick me out. But it will happen this year. It has too.

And since we've taken a trip down memory lane in this post...

Here's a somewhat recent photo of my first roomies out of college -- Katherine (aka Kma) and Emily (aka Eminem). I have some photos of us when we were 21 and 22 but they are awful, or at least they are of me. 'Twas clearly one of my "ugly stages."


When I moved out of the apartment I shared with Em and Katherine, I moved into a super fun house with 11 other roomies -- 2 girls and 9 guys. It was an AWESOME group of people. Think The Real World, but with MIT, Ivy League and liberal arts grads. Here are photos from some of the crazy parties we used to throw. Yes, that dance floor was my living room. The other room was our front hall. Like I said, we threw good parties.

McCafe My Day

Would you like a cafe mocha with that Egg McMuffin?

Beginning today, McDonald's is going to be advertising its newest venture -- fancy coffee. It's supposedly the fast food giant's biggest advertising launch EVER. Check out the TV ads here. (And apologies for the random ad that may appear first -- I couldn't find a sample on YouTube yet.)

Mickey D's entire premise is to keep getting your fancy coffee...but get it for a lot less than you would pay at, say, Starbucks. And if it works, well, Starbucks needs to watch out. Some analysts say McDonald's McCafe could dent Starbucks' revenue by 5%. Not good, especially since Starbucks closed hundreds of stores and laid off over 12,000 employees last year.

But Starbucks isn't just sitting on its overpriced tush and letting McDonald's steal its customers. America's favorite yuppie coffee house is shooting back with a campaign touting the quality of its coffee as compared to McDonald's and other cheaper brews -- and it's is not making any apologies for the price. Here is a sample ad:


Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz says "We don't want the public to be misled that all coffee is equal, because it's not." Perhaps, but is your coffee worth an extra $2 a day, an extra $10 a week, and an extra $520 a year??? Given the current economic climate (I know, I know -- all my recent talk about the recession makes me sound like a broken record...), maybe not. Starbucks is already having to push back on rival Dunkin' Donuts, so McDonald's entrance into the coffee industry is probably raising the blood pressure of quite a few Starbucks employees.

So....what do you think of the new McDonald's ads? Enough to make you trade your Starbucks for a McCafe?

Staying positive when life throws you lemons....

Today I got word from a third employer that the job I interviewed for was put on hold. Major bummer....especially since this is the third time I have been faced with this kind of news.

Staying positive in this job market is a monumental task, but I haven't given up yet. Given that a lot of you are probably going through the same hell that I am suffering through now (or if you're not, some of you probably will be soon....although I hope not!!!) I thought I would share some of the ways I am keeping my head up during this recession.

- Set a schedule: I try to apply for jobs, work my network, etc. for at least 6 hours a day -- sometimes it's closer to 10, and sometimes it's closer to 2. But I have a general schedule in mind that I try to stick to.

- Focus on new professional interests: Since I got the axe, I've spent a lot of time developing this blog, Tweeting, growing my LinkedIn network, learning Google analytics, etc. Landing a new post is about more than just sending off resumes and emailing your old contacts. It's also about developing new skills and investing in yourself. Use this time to grow professionally.

- Make some moola: I have been babysitting and freelancing to make some extra cash. It's not much, but it helps keep my wallet a little fatter. (Or, more appropriately, a little less anorexic.)

- Excercise: This is the one silver lining to my losing my job -- I've dropped 5 lbs! Woohoo! Since I have so much extra time now, I am able to hit the gym more frequently.

- If you have the cash, travel: I am a pretty lucky cookie. After all, I was able to spend close to a month in South America without any job or income. I know that most people don't have this luxury, but at the very least, try to get away for a short weekend. To save cash, stay with friends, eat in, and just chill and relax. (Note: traveling can mess up the exercise benefit I spoke about before. Remember this post?)

- Get help: You can't do this alone -- you need a support network. Thank God I have a great family, awesome friends, and a fab therapist. If you don't have a support network behind you, get one. Go back to church. Reach out to old colleagues. Join a professional networking group. Trust me -- there are a ton of people out there who are willing to help you. You just gotta ask.

- Take a break: You don't work non-stop when you're employed, so you can't job search non-stop. You gotta give yourself a break. This is especially true during the weekends. Hang out with your friends. Treat yourself to a cheap dinner out. And have a glass of wine :) Trust me, it will help you relax. (Or at the very least, help you sleep!)

- And most importantly -- be patient. This one has been really hard for me, especially since this is my first job search where I have interviewed for positions and not gotten offers. Until recently, I had NEVER interviewed for a job that I didn't get. You gotta remain upbeat and give yourself time -- everything will work out. Or at least, that's what I am telling myself...

GOOD LUCK!

Putting things in perspective

From Gawker. (I know, I know.....I can't help it though. It's an addiction.)









Above: the stock market since 1999. It appears that we're nearing the lowest point in the past 10 years. Not good. Not good at all.









Above: But then, a different graph, tracking the good ol' portfolio from 1930. Hallelujah! Compared to the 1930s we're just peachy!

I love apples to oranges comparisons.

Wow, that is a lot of fruit.

And on that note, I'm going to click my lil' mouse on over here....

Recession Friendly Shopping

We all know about Bluefly, Overstock, and Half.com. Here are a few other sites for cheap peeps like me to check out!

The Budget Fashionista -- the latest coupons and deals, with tips on new sales and (inevitable) store closings. Some recent posts: 15% off at dELIA*S (great for cheap and fun trendy duds) and a code for 50% off Old Navy sale items. Also had a great post about some new designers partnering with Payless Shoe Source. Think Patricia Field shoes for $30 bucks. Sweet!

RetailMeNot.com-- an oldy but goody. I scored 15% off a wine subscription for my 'rents a few months back. Plus, Gap recently broke down and let the site post its coupons (some lame retailers -- J.Crew -- don't allow the site to post their deals. Boo!). I always check this site before I buy ANYTHING online. Other key retailers with coupons posted are Victoria's Secret, American Eagle (which I recently rediscovered -- great cheap pieces!) and even Papa John's pizza. It's also super easy to use.

SlickDeals: A forum for cheapies. If you see a good deal, post it online for others to find, or search to see what deals others have posted. Also includes a coupon section, but it's not as easy to use at RetailMeNot. FatWallet is another similar site to check out.

Invite only fashion web sites: popular ones are Gilt Groupe, The Top Secret, and Ideeli. You have to be invited to join (I am a member of all but Top Secret, so if you need an invite, let me know), but once you're in, you can score great designer pieces for up to 50% off. How do they do it? By offering only a few select items each a month -- so you have to be flexible with what you're willing to drop dough on. Also offer cool giveaways.

Any others to add?

Lipstick, mascara, and the economy have a threesome

Have you heard of the lipstick index?

For those of you unfamiliar with the economic theory of Leonard Lauder, the former CEO of make-up giant Estee Lauder, here's the gist: when the economy goes sour, as it did after 9/11, lipstick sales go up. The reason? Even in tough economic times, women want to splurge and treat themselves. But they're broke, so they forgo the $200 jeans and $800 handbags, instead dropping cash on cheaper designer loot, like $20 lipsticks.

Lauder's index isn't HBS-level theory. But it kind of makes sense, especially in America, where many women (especially young, single and urban ones, like myself) have the unfortunate tendency to rack up major credit card debt on uber-luxurious and way too expensive duds. But when 401Ks disappear and employers start firing workers, even the spendthrift youth of America start to button up and watch their wallets. (Louis Vuitton wallets, natch!) Confronted by a desire for a luxury but the bank accounts of a priest, they make sacrifices: "If I can't buy the Chanel purse, then I'll just buy the Chanel lipstick." Essentially, brand name lipsticks replace brand name clutches.

His theory hasn't been holding up lately. Even though we're in the midst of the worst recession since 1929, lipstick sales are plummeting. In fact, the entire make-up industry is facing some serious financial hardships; by mid-2009, L'Oreal, the go-to drugstore cosmetics line, will lay off 500 US employees. Ouch. But there is a silver lining: mascara. Mascara sales have been up for the last few months. Why? Many analysts are crediting new mascaras with vibrating bristles for the increase. Um, weird, but I digress. Here is an article about it: http://tiny.cc/yLGcS. Is a Mascara Index on its way?

A couple months ago, I resisted dropping dough on a fab BCBG dress....but I did buy my fave Dior mascara. Now that the economy is in the dumps, what substitutions are you making? What's your lipstick index item?

DISCLOSURE (meant mostly for the 'rents and grandparents): Yours truly is a huge cheapskate who doesn't spend carelessly. She also pays off her entire credit card bill every month and has no debt....except for that damn car.

Thoughts on BA, Part 2

Wow, what to say other than I LOVE IT HERE! It is probably a good thing that I don't speak Spanish, because if I did I would seriously consider quitting my job search and moving here permanently.

There are two aspects about BA that appeal to me so much: the culture and the prices. Culturally, BA is like a South American Paris -- gorgeous surroundings, beautiful people, and amazing food and wine....but even though it is one of the vainest countries the world (this coming from natives, NOT me) it doesn't take itself too seriously. Maybe its because the country has been to hell and back about half dozen times in the last 100 years...I don't know. But there is a chillness in attitude that you would never find in ANY European country. Second, and I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but.... the place is insanely cheap. My steak dinner last night was incredible and I paid a mere $23 for it (including 2, count 'em, 2 bottles of wine!!). I don't think I could have MADE it for that cheap. Did I die and go to heaven or what??? (Btw the image above is a random street fair that I ran across in Palermo....I have no idea what they were celebrating, but it was pretty cool!)

There are some pics below that illustrate what I have been up to for the last couple of days. All photos will (at some point) be posted online at jenpearsall.shutterfly.com but for now, this will give you a taste of BA from my viewpoint!

Love you all!

XOXO
Jen

PS - Still no word from "THE" job. Will keep you posted...

PPS - Saw some AWESOME Tango today! Check out the videos on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jenpearsall














MALBA, Contemporary Art Museum. The one and only museum I plan on visiting. I am trying to make this a more chill and relaxed vacation where I spend more time in cafes than staring at art work....














Parks of Palermo....green and gorgeous. Oddly enough, none of the trees or flowers that populate BA are natural. BA is naturally pretty treeless, so these were all planted once the city grew.














San Telmo flea market. The girl next to me is Kate, who took my apartment in Beantown when I moved to Houston. Totally weird coincidence that we were in BA at the same time...and we took the same flight down!!














AMAZING steak dinner. YUM!

Thoughts on BA, Part 1

Hey folks,

So here I am, wrapping up my third day in BA. The city is incredible -- the European influence is hard to miss, and you guys know how obsessed I am with Europe.

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind. I've taken a Spanish lesson (although you would never know it...), eaten 2 ice cream cones, bought some gifts at the San Telmo "feria." taken in an art museum (the MALBA), hung out in one of BA's most stylish eateries (Bar 6 in Palmero), drank about 2 bottles of wine, and walked 'til I wanted to collapse (which I promptly did on my apartment's couch!) I have been very fortunate to have some friends of friends in town, so I have been tagging along with various people over the last few days. Although I do travel well alone, it is nice to not have to eat alone EVERY night!

Definite plans for the next couple of days include a traditional steakhouse, a city tour, Recoleta cemetery and coffee with an MHC alum. (When you travel alone, you have to reach out to EVERY connection possible!) Potential plans include a quick trip to Colonia, lots of shopping and a tango show – the shopping and tango show depend on what happens with the job situation (fingers crossed I get it!).

Internet is acting up, but photos will come soon! I promise!

PS – I heard that BA was no longer the discount traveler’s paradise that it used to be. Um, maybe if you compare it so the middle of Africa! I have been THRILLED with the prices thus far. Case in point – a trip to the grocery store today put me back 40 pesos, or about $11.50. What did I get for this? Let’s see – a bottle of NICE wine, cookies, three yogurts, a bunch of fruit, AND a few diet cokes. Dinner last night at a fancy Palermo spot was 60 pesos – or about $17 – for a HUGE meal, bread, bubbly water, and two big glasses of wine. Houston guys and gals (I MISS Y'ALL!!!), can you imagine going to Dolce Vita and walking out of there with a $17 bill??? Um, yeah, I think not.