Being a freelancer sucks when you um, aren't FREE

I cannot tell you how much it pains me to tell someone NO when I'm called for a job. After all, I'm the YES girl remember? When I was at jury duty the other week, I had to turn down a reporting gig for a website I would loooove to work for. I was super-bummed, but I have a pal at the company, so when they told me "Don't worry, we'll call you again," I believed it. 

But yesterday as I was walking to the park to lay out (I know, you hate me), I got a call from a 323 number. Who do I know in California? Worried it might be a salesperson from my gym calling me yet again from a different phone number, I let it go to voicemail. Then I listened to the message:

Hi Ellen, this is Steve. I'm a producer at A&E (Ok ok, interesting...) and I'm calling you about a new show we're working on (Right right...). You were very highly recommended to us (Umm, obvi), and I was wondering if you could assist our wardrobe stylist with an upcoming taping. (Please please PLEASE don't be this weekend!) So if you're free this Friday through Sunday, give me a call and...I didn't hear anything after that. 

(Ok, so this pic is random, but I totally think people should start paying their freelancers with Starbucks gift cards!) If you recall from this post, I'm going to be in Southampton over the weekend. If I could afford to lose that $300 deposit, I might have considered canceling (Oh ok, no I wouldn't have), but it just wasn't realistic at such short notice. Plus, this trip is like five years overdue! But seriously, how much does that SUCK?! I was especially excited for the opportunity because I didn't have any connections at this company, which showed me that somehow my name is floating around the big bad city, and that's pretty awesome. I called Steve back to thank him and to tell him to please keep me in mind for future jobs. (I'm positive I came across waaay too eager...and desperate.) He said he'd "keep me on file." (On file? Really?) FAIL. 

Freelancing is the best thing in the world when: 1.) You're getting called regularly for jobs. 2.) You're available to do those jobs. I can't help but to think that by saying "no," I will lose a potential employer forever. It's so frustrating! 

Tell me: What's the thing you like the least about your job? And does anyone have any exciting work-related news to share? I promise I won't get jealous! ;)

Which Sex and The City Character are YOU?

This week in NYC it's been all about Sex and the City 2! The premiere, the after parties, parties after the after parties, and sadly I haven't been to a single event. Not that I expected to, but I've felt like a loser lately reading my friends' SATC Facebook status updates over the last few days: Just spotted SJP at (insert swanky hotel here)! or In a limo on my way to the premiere! Hellllo friends, remember me? I'm a great wing woman in case you have forgotten? 

An.Y.way, here's a group pic from the premiere. Lookin' good, ladies! I don't know about you, but I'm happy to see that SJP doesn't have a plant growing out of her head like she did at the London premiere for the first movie. (I believe the Brits call those little hats fascinators?) Her asymmetrical lemon colored dress allows her to stand out just enough without screaming LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME! 

So, if you had to guess, who do you think my favorite character is? I'll narrow it down for you...

Carrie has killer style and just an overall fabulous little Manhattan life (and she's a writer), but....

I'm SO Miranda! Are you surprised? She's funny, sarcastic, smart—LOVE her. I actually have a tank top that says, "I'm a Miranda!" I need to dig it up and rock it when I go to see the movie. Cheesy? Yes. Do I care? No. 

So tell me: Which SATC character are YOU and why? Are you excited for the movie? I've heard mixed reviews, but of course I'm going to see it anyway!

On-the-Fence Fashion

New trends are constantly coming out (er, or being recycled), and there's always a few I'm on the fence about. Like, I know they are totally approved by the Fashion Gods and that I'm supposed to like them, but sometimes I just don't quite get it. 

Trend #1: Cut-outs and shredding

Both Liza and Joyann are sporting this trend, but unfortunately you can't really see it. They look hottt in the pic though, which is why I decided to post it anyway. The shoulders on Liza's dress are cut out and the back of Joyann's dress looks something like this:

Ok, so I'm down with these looks—edgy, but subtle. (Photo: Cheap Monday tank from Shopbop.)

But this? No thank you. If this is in style, then I will gladly turn myself in to the Fashion Police right this second because I do not concur. I guess Amber Rose is still trying to help Kanye prove to the world that he likes girls instead of boys. Give it up, dude, no one believes you.

Trend #2: Clogs

To clog or not to clog? That's the recurring question every summer. MK Olsen looks like a bum most of time, but she knows her shit. (I looove her and Ashley's line Elizabeth and James!) Hrm...

I got an email the other day about these shoes, FitFlops. Apparently they are biochemically engineered to help sculpt your leg muscles, improve posture and reduce back pain—which I have from time to time. These could be worth trying—if I'm going to start cloggin', I suppose doing it with added health benefits is the way to go! 

 

Trend #3: Denim on Denim

I've been testing out this trend for a while now, and I'm still unsure about it. I always think it's cool when I first put it together, but looking back now...ICK! 

And this is what walked down the Louis Vuitton runway at Spring Fashion Week. I love the afro, but everything else confuses the hell out of me. Whyyyy?

So what are your thoughts on these three trends? What others are you on the fence about?

Bringing Sexy Back

Saturday my boyfriend and I planned a special date night because we hadn't seen each other in a week. It sucks when we're both that busy, but we always find a way to make it up to each other. So how do we bring the sexy back?

I wear high heels...

...and he takes me out to a nice sushi dinner. We went to Blue Ribbon in SoHo--it's one of my favorites! In addition to the usual suspects (california roll, tuna/salmon/egg/eel sushi pieces), we tried the Blue Ribbon roll.

It was pretty to look at (caviar, anyone?), but I didn't love it. Lobster doesn't have much flavor, and the shiso had an um, interesting taste. I don't know, maybe a sushi expert would have given it rave reviews, but it wasn't my cup of green tea!

My boyfriend and I went here on one of our first dates, so it was fun to recall that memory when we were still getting to know each other. (Actually, it's a bit of a blur--I drank waaaay too much in the beginning of our relationship!) He made a comment the other day about how I rarely wear heels anymore and I freaked. Nooo! I don't want to be THAT girl! So I put on high heels and gave myself a D.I.Y. mani. And I had planned to wear something a little sexier, but I didn't like anything in my closet, so I borrowed Liza's DVF jumper. It did the job.

**Ohh, I've got giveaway winner announcements! BerryFine won the Bumble and Bumble hair products and Mary Allen won Carmindy's Crazy Busy Beautiful book! Shoot me an email ladies with your mailing info! And I *pinky promise* I selected the winners at random. I gave everyone a number and had the bf pick 'em :) (Does anyone have any suggestions on a better way to do it??) An.Y.way...

So yeah, it doesn't take much for my bf and I to bring the sexy back into our relationship when things get a little crazy. High heels, sushi, vino and we're good! What about you: What special things do you (or have you done in the past) with your partner to keep the flame a burnin'? And how important do you think it is to fix up and make the effort to look good for each other?

How do you decide what you put your energy into?

As a freelancer, it's really important what I choose to spend my time and energy on. At times I want to say YES to everything, but some jobs just aren't worth it. Like, I'd rather write an article for FREE for a publication I really like and want to build a working relationship with, over writing a blog about baby nurseries for a parenting website for $50. What's worth it? What isn't? That's what I'm constantly asking myself.



So I told you that I recently took on a freelance PR/assistant gig. Well, I finished out one job and then on Friday I quit. I was the one doing the firing this time around and it felt pretty weird. I took the job for the potential networking opportunities and contacts it would bring (I certainly didn't do it for the money!), but after day one I realized it was something I just couldn't --and shouldn't--invest my energy into. It's really not in my best interest to tell you the details of what went down, but let's just say that I will no longer be able to watch The Devil Wears Prada with the same amount of enjoyment, which really is a shame.

I was kinda bummed that the gig didn't work out because I was excited to be able to tell people I was doing SOMETHING, something kinda cool, regarding work. Ohh well. Bragging rights certainly aren't worth destruction to my mental health!

So, it's back to the drawing board! On the bright side, I will now be able to regain focus on the blog. (Well, I might not be 100 percent back to normal until after Memorial Day weekend, but I'm getting there!) Ohh and it's not too late to enter the Bumble and Bumble contest giveaway--I've decided to wait until tonight to pick a winner! An.Y.way...

Tell me: How do you decide what you put your energy into? What's worth it and what isn't? And have you ever had a Devil Wears Prada moment at work?!

Do your food cravings change by the season?

Mine do. This winter I was allll about chili. My boyfriend and I made it quite a bit, and we actually still have some saved in the freezer! It's filling, yummy and just so satisfying during the colder months. (And well, I'm always looking for an excuse to eat tortilla chips!) Well now that the temps are rising, my ice cream cravings have kicked into full gear, and it's just down right dangerous.

After I finished my Glamour reporting in Union Square this afternoon, I had a hankering for something cold and creamy, so I popped into The Lite Choice just a block away for a cup of Dark Chocolate Truffle with mint chips. It was so good--I love their selection of toppings! (New Yawkers, check out these awesome giveaways they are doing right now!)

I had chilled out a bit (pun intended) on the ice cream and froyo treats a bit when the weather was cooler, but today I realized that it's not going to be quite as easy to resist once summer officially starts. Pretty soon, I know I'm going to want ice cream every.single.day. I don't think I'm strong enough to resist it--actually, I know I'm not--but I'm going to try to just get a small serving every time I do have it. I guess it's all about compromise and balance and the idea that everything is good in moderation. Yeah, yeah, blah blah blah. We'll have to wait and see how THAT goes!

So what about you: do your food cravings change by the season? What do you love to eat during the summer?

Lets.get.fired.UP!

Clap, clap, clap clap clap. I was a cheerleader for a YMCA basketball team when I was like 10, and that was my favorite little cheer. Why? Because it was the only one I could remember all of the words and moves to! An.Y.way. You know from this post that I love love LOVE getting little surprises in the mail, and LOOK what my friend Lorraine sent me yesterday!

It's hanging on my wall right above my desk—perfecto! It's so funny, when I first started the blog, some people thought the name meant that I was like FIRED UP about something. Angry? Pumped up? I'm not sure. But nope, I'm just straight up FIRED. 

But as you know by now, plenty of things do get me fired up. One being, that there seems to be so many people with fabulous jobs who just don't seem to deserve them. People with fancy titles who find sneaky ways to get other people to make them look good without even lifting a finger. Hate that. And most recently, I worked with a PR director of one of the fanciest hotels in NYC who was a complete mess—unprofessional, unorganized, un...everything. It just boggled my mind. I really try not to be bitter, but sometimes it's just so damn hard!

So what about you: What's getting you FIRED UP these days?