How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Unchose

Being single on the day most lauded for those in relationships can really suck, but it doesn’t have to. Along with putting up the appropriate filters on Tweetdeck and avoiding Instagram, here are seven ideas to help you enjoy the day without a bae.

Go to work or school.

Um, it’s Friday and unless there is a polar vortex and black ice preventing you from being mobile, you need to clock in.

Re-watch Scandal on Netflix and Hulu.

There are two weeks left until this winter hiatus ends and that gives you plenty of time to re-watch the first ten episodes of Season 3. If you’re really down, you could probably watch all thirty-nine episodes over the weekend with a bottle of red wine and popcorn, of course.

Grab a dinner with your best friend.

Unless your best friend already has plans, you could enjoy a nice meal with a great person that’s already been your A1 since day one.

Make cards for hospital-ridden children or elderly people in nursing homes.

Take this time to give back to others and show that someone is thinking about them. It can go a long way.

Play with puppies at the local humane society.

Adorable dogs beat some inconsistent fool any day. You can take 30 minutes out of your day to rub on a few bellies and maybe get few sloppy kisses in return.

Get a drink at the bar.

You don’t have to stand in line like you would to get into a club and it doesn’t cost a stack to sit down. And if you want to be casual, just find a local sports bar. I mean, they have the same drinks.

Work out.

Maybe your #next is at the gym. Or maybe not. But you can clear your mind and promote a healthy lifestyle by getting a good run in.

What have you done to celebrate the holiday when you weren’t in a relationship?

I Once Was Ratchet, But Now I’m Found

You ever randomly hear about someone you used to hang with to find out that they’re still doing the same ole same ole? Not too long ago, I was told of the adventures of a guy I used to date and was not surprised at all to learn that he’s still up to the same antics he engaged in nearly four years ago. Now, I’m not saying that I never did anything dumb or careless, but all the dumb and careless things I did were done yearssss ago. And they stayed there.

I believe that maturity comes with age and experience. You learn that so-and-so lives recklessly and you decide you’re not so willing to hang out with them anymore. You find out that spending $100 on liquor is probably not the best way to use your college refund check. You peep the game and apply it towards the future.

I came to the point in life where I prefer to stay in than go out. And if I do go out, it’s usually to the movies or to eat (I mean, I’m tired from the work week. There’s only so much energy I have left.) I’m not 20 anymore. I’m not supposed to be the same chick that used to start the weekend on Thursday at the Rook. I know my alcoholic limits. I know I get tired by 10:30 pm (hush). I’m getting older and I’m maturing and part of that maturation is in my relationship with God. You reallllly can’t convince people that you’re a true Christian when you’re Instagramming drunken photos of yourself before getting to the club. And you really can’t appear to have it all together when you’re in your mid-to-late twenties and still going out as if your liver is brand new. 1 Peter 4:3 basically says that we spent enough time in our past getting ratchet, but now we gotta let that go and develop in the Lord. In order to progress ourselves, we have to be able to leave certain actions in the past. It pains me to see people with such potential wasting their lives by engaging in the same foolery that got them into trouble years ago. Alas, to each his own. All I can do is pray for their sakes and keep it moving.

Do you know of anyone who’s still living like it’s 2009? How do you deal?

Credits: jah~

Never Talk About Money or Religion: A Big Girl’s Guide to Pay

As Millenials, the economic forefront has been bad for much of our early adult lives. Many of us have struggled to find jobs in our fields. A few of us have even retreated to school to acquire a degree in hopes that it will get us to where we want to be. (I would be the second one.) The good news is, our diligence has paid off. Among our age group, we’ve closed the gender pay gap to 93 cents on the dollar. However, many women still wish they had more pay…and more importantly, deserve to be adequately compensated for their indispensable contributions. We know we deserve it, but how do we approach such a sensitive topic as pay? 

1. Take a Personal Inventory.

Try to grasp as much of the big picture as you can. What are you doing to make yourself indispensable in your department and at your company? Performance is important but also, what are you doing to show that you are a vital part of woolrich Arctic Parka the company framework? Knowing what you have done and what you can continue to do grow in your position helps when you get ready to have the conversation with your uppers.

2. Be Realistic.

Find out what others in your position and at your level of experience are making. If you are feel comfortable with talking to coworkers in your space, find out what they started with and how their pay progressed over the years. Gauge your company performance. Did they just lay off half the work force last Monday? Probably not a good idea to ask for the big bucks. Don’t ask for a $10,000 increase after you’ve been working there for two months. But you are smart people, I trust you to do your research and make the best decisions.

3. Get Your Pitch Perfect.

Make sure you pick the right timing to make your request. Career coach Marie McIntyre suggests that one of the best times for you to have the conversation is after you’ve completed a big project. You’ve made them happy, so it’s optimal to ride the wave of your accomplishments while they are still top of mind. Make a foolproof case for yourself. Based on the information you gathered on your performance as well as through your dedicated research, you can confidently sell yourself as a valuable asset that is worth spending money on to keep.

So you heard a no…

Fortunately, it’s not the end of the world. Ask questions. Is there anything you can do to merit an increase? Is there a better time to request? Can you be promoted to a better woolrich Luxury Boulder job title or receive other benefits such as increased vacation time? It never hurts to ask, and as women, we have historically undersold ourselves simply because we were scared.

If you have any questions, leave us a comment or email and we’ll try to help in the best way we can. For the more tenured career ladies, please don’t hesitate to share any other insights in our comment section.

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Credits: Nic McPhee