The Edition: No. 95
Apr 30, 2019
They didn’t want it good, they wanted it Wednesday. — Robert Heinlein (A sentiment anyone with a job they care about can understand.)
Avarice. My friend T sent this article to me: “Women Did Everything Right, and Then Work Got Greedy.” We talked about it via text for hours.
Why — instead of making “flexible” jobs for women — aren’t we asking why an employer gets to require salaried employees to answer emails at all hours, come early/work late, and do enough labor for two people? There is something wrong with the way we work in this country, and it’s hurting women most of all.
Priced. 50%-off Everything at J.Crew Factory + 20% more off with code TOOGOOD. Bought this pretty dress for $32.
Moved. On leaving the city and finding yourself in the Midwest.
Styled. Ted Baker printed top + red blazer + navy trousers + navy pumps = killing it at work attire.
Mea Culpa. No, you don’t have to stop apologizing. Instead, reframe ‘sorry.’
Bejeweled. Argento Vivo has some lovely sale-priced jewelry at Nordstrom Rack. I love these oblong wire hoops and this dainty chalcedony necklace (Mother’s Day?).
Starved. Skin-fasting: The answer to your serum addiction.
Bagged. Love the color on this boysenberry tote from Nordstrom Rack.
Denied. The ultimate productivity hack? Saying no to things.
I get a lot of questions about how to apply makeup correctly. I thought this graphic did an excellent job of showing the best ways to apply eye shadow. Looking for a great palette? This Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk palette is my current obsession. The copper, shimmery colors looks amazing by itself. This purple-hued Smith & Cult palette is also phenomenal.
If you need something more frugal, this $9 L’Oreal Roses palette and this $8 Rimmel Afternoon Tea Palette are both great.
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I read that first article yesterday; it’s SO GOOD. The statistics on the productivity and health of workers pulling 50+ hour weeks is pretty damning, but so many people and workplaces normalize it. (My specific frustration is that talking about the amount of time worked is often independent of discussing the quality or even quantity of work getting produced.)
I had though about throwing out a question to the FB group about how to talk about this issue because I feel like whenever I bring it up there’s someone pushing back and passing overwork off as “just the way it is” for whatever reason.
I really enjoyed that NYT article. The graphic at the top of the “out of office” reply also made me chuckle.
Incidentally, my partner sent me that moving-to-the-Midwest article days ago as part of his gentle months-long pitch for us to move away from the DC grind to Richmond…
I love Richmond, his parents are there, I’m very into the idea conceptually and emotionally… but I’m worried my salary is going to plummet. Abra, did you have similar reservations about moving back?
So many reservations. Some came true, some didn’t. Another friend moved to Minneapolis right after me, her salary took a two year hit. She said it took her that long to figure out who paid and who didn’t (she’s a lawyer).
Caitlin, I moved from Denver to Helena, MT, and though both my and my husband’s salaries took a hit (we’re lawyers), life is also cheaper here (in our first month, the amount we spent on food dropped $500). The lifestyle change, though it sounds cheesy, was for me pretty priceless. I have bad anxiety, and the smaller location makes it easier to manage. I’m happier. Admittedly, one really practical aspect of this conversation is that we don’t have a lot of student debt. If we did, we would’ve rode it out in the bigger legal market for a few more years.