While texting with a lovelorn friend yesterday, I realized that designing jewelry has taught me three things that straight women need to know about bad relationships. I preserved my texts for your amusement/edification. They’re below along with my elaborations. 1. Even precious things are replaceable. Okay, that was a little bit of textual exaggeration. Not…
advice
What to Say When You Didn’t Get the Memo
If you find yourself wildly out of step with the dress code, remember what Noël Coward said upon arriving at a party wearing an ordinary suit, only to discover all the other men wearing white tie and tails: “Please, I don’t want anyone to apologize for overdressing.” You’re welcome, Hillary Clinton!
The Truth About Success
I got a kick out of this illustration that gorgeous blogger Jennine of The Coveted sent me. (I’ve seen this, uncredited, all over the Internets. If it’s yours or you know where it originated, let me know so I can credit it.) It’s reassuring to see that some experiences are universal. The saying, “It takes…
Career Advice for Young Wimmins: Don’t Borrow Trouble
The New York Times ran a story today about commencement speeches and included an excerpt from Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, who spoke at Barnard College. Her words are worth repeating: “Women almost never make one decision to leave the work force. It doesn’t happen that way. They make small little decisions…
The Bitchtastic Guide to Business™: Fame Doesn’t Equal Fortune
Recently, I met with gorgeous blogger Kate of The Styley. Kate launched The Styley in March and was looking for some blogging tips. Like a lot of other new bloggers, she wondered if it made sense to start a blog now, when there are so many big bloggers already out there. In our discussion, I…
This Free Advice Is the Exception to the Rule
People frequently ask me for my No. 1 small-business tip, but who can say if they’ll be faced with the situations I’ve faced? The lesson that was the hardest for me to learn might be something other people never encounter. But since y’all want to know, I’m going to answer with a Pandora’s box of…
Honestly! I Like White Lies.
In a recent article in the New York Times, etiquette expert Letitia Baldridge said of white lies, “I never would have gotten through life without them.” She’s consistent. Twenty years ago, she said, “A white lie is permissible for kindness’ sake.” Fleetwood Mac agrees, as do I. “Tell me lies. Tell me sweet little lies.”…
Unasked-For Advice
To the person who came to my blog by searching for “cheapskate > doesn’t want to buy engagement ring”: Don’t marry him. Ring © Wendy Brandes Photography by SquareMoose In general, I advise against marriage if a potential spouse inspires you to Google things such as “cheapskate,” “liar,” or “goddamned motherfucking asshole.”
Snipe, Dammit!
My peeps, some of you are driving me crazy with your complaints about losing eBay auctions at “the last second.” If you are serious about winning anything, you must snipe. A snipe is an automated, last-second bid. The people who are beating you out are most likely using sniping services (which eBay finds perfectly “legal”)….
Helpful Hints for Owners of Precious Items
I can’t remember which blog originally tipped me off to the Prada Fairy Bag controversy, but thanks! The ink on the bags can bleed if it gets wet. Prada apparently didn’t know that when they started selling the bags. Now they know, thanks to customer complaints, and hopefully salespeople are warning new customers. There is…