a Taylored Approach
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3/27/2018 0 Comments Sweet #66 years. 2,190 days. 3.1 million minutes. Let's just let that sink in for a second and yes, I did the math. I think back to the girl who pulled the trigger 312 weeks ago to make a leap to a city she had no idea she would like. She followed a dream and I sometimes wonder... what happened to this girl? She was timid. She was unsure. She was ready for change and had no idea how to get there. But she had one thing, believe in herself things would work out. I've figured out over the last 6 years as a Marina dweller that is the game of life. And no, I'm not scheming to get a blue peg in my pink car just yet (well, kind of) but really, I think back to the girl who had her parents packing her two bedroom Scottsdale apartment to fit into a studio and I have never taken a moment to thank that tan, blonde girl. Don't worry, I've thanked my parents. But alas, this girl didn't question life, moved to a city with no apartment and no idea of what the future would hold and amazingly, she had no worry. Instead, she was optimistic and had faith. Faith that family was the right thing to bring her back closer to home and as she drove down the Embarcadero on many past city visits, she knew someday she would find herself at the Gap Corporate offices. And guess what, that's what she did. As I sit here and realize math has become one of my best friends at work, it's put my 6th city anniversary in perspective. If I could talk to that Scottsdale TC, I'd share a few facts with her from San Francisco TC: 1) Dirty martinis should always be a basic food group. 2) Blanche is a perfectly acceptable and necessary alter ego. 3) A studio apartment is a blank canvas and glimpse into the personality of your future home. 4) Your career is one vehicle to your trademark in the world but no matter how hard you work to climb the corporate ladder, it should never define you. Instead, it should be flamingos, sequins or a pink door. 5) If you surround with the best of the best gals, you've made friends for life. 6) As much as you try to be superwoman, everyone has a moment of weakness. It's ok to feel lost. Accept it. Get over it and move on. 7) There will never be a shortage of pink houses. If it's front of mind, you'll always fall into it. 8) The man who makes you forget you want to be a boss in the office will be the one you hang onto. 9) When you find that mental "click" as you are tourist in our city, get out that camera and capture it. Heck, use it to decorate your house. 10) It's easy to be your own worst critic. Take a moment to leave those thoughts behind and thank yourself. You are right where you need to be. Bold that one. Ironically as I googled wedding gifts for year #6, they could not be more opposite; candy + iron. Sweet and reliable which if I looked San Francisco TC, she's turned out be. Her mind is like iron, almost too strong. It doesn't take a break, cut her any slack and always has her thinking she should strive for more. She's never done and never settles. You guessed it, the work side. Then, there's the sweet. The personal side. She's too nice and should take a page from the bold iron boss. Sure she might be cute but inside, she could cut you if she chooses too but that sweet candy side gives you the benefit of the doubt. I would be lying if I said Maddie, my Mac on Chestnut, wasn't playing Mandy Moore's Candy as I'm writing this. It felt right. Cheers to San Francisco, Chestnut Street and the amazing journey I've cultivated in my 6 years so far. I get emotional when I scroll through photos from the last 1.8 billion seconds (thanks Rent).
Little did I know, you would give me the key to be me.
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3/10/2018 Florida TCThis past week in Orlando was one of the most fulfilling of my career. 40 years of BR, a fashion packed alter ego and the ability to connect with teams whose energy is contagious. Something I once did as a 5'2 powerhouse where my obsession was merchandising, driving volume and challenging myself to wear sky heels all day. Flash forward and I am surrounded by the most talented people bringing our team's work to life, naturally, using Mall Madness. To this day, I giggle a little that the girl who always got the discount math problem wrong during SAT prep is now the woman helping team's drive top line. In my career, it's always come down to three little words I was taught in my store days, where I look back and realize why I was successful. People. Product. Placement. In and outside of the office, it's all about timing. The right people, with the right things, positioned at the right time = GOLD. Or sometimes in my life, PINK. But timing is everything and this conference came at a point where I needed inspiration and a pick me up to remind myself why I come to work everyday and why I have an overwhelming passion for my job. It's amazing when you get people together who are passionate about the same thing. Mornings, you found us dancing on top of our chairs surrounded by our favorite BR things; jungle creatures, animal prints and chic clothing. It's also pretty amazing when beneath the business, you see the true heart in people and what moves them. That's what I encountered in each of my 6 days on the other end of the states. It's more than money, more than material things, it's a love of what you do. It wouldn't be a week away without capturing a few snaps of my favorite leaves. Those little moments where you need a mental break from the day, you've lost your voice and you look up to those green beauties. We snuck away to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours where I've realized my roller coaster days are over and It's a Small World is more my speed. Officially 85 years old and proud of it. I'll say it once and I'll say it again, trust the timing of your life. You spend more of your minutes with your coworkers than your family at times and I hit the jackpot with mine. I haven't laughed so hard, drank so many martini's and forgot about the simplest of worry's I had in San Francisco thanks to these gals. I get emotional because there is one who is truly the most special. We all have them. Our work wives. One thought, one dream and one bad ass duo. With just a look, you instantly know what the other is thinking. I can't wait to look back on this photo as a CEO someday and say, remember when?
And with that, I'll leave you with the most important lesson of the week. You should always make an entrance in leopard. 2/27/2018 0 Comments Saturday ExploresSpontaneity has always been hard for me. I always have to have a plan. Have an alarm set even if it's the weekend and if I ignore it, that's okay. But deep down, I need an agenda. This past Saturday, I checked a few places off my list and let the day take me away. Mainly yes, because of the adorable decor I set out to snap, a slice of heavenly avo toast and a large dose of cold brew but also quality time with TC. Lately, it's been super important to connect with myself. Work has been crazy and it's been a challenge to carve out time to check out and rest my mind. In my own way, let go. Slowly, I'm learning it's time to let moments just take me away and the rest, well, I can figure out later. I first met Bluestone Lane on an NYC trip with my sister last year and the avocado toast was one of the best ever. Plus, it's like really pretty. Palm leaf pillows, gold chairs and marble table tops, I was pretty much ready to move in. I posted up in the corner, people watched, pinned a little and dove into my current read, Material Girl, Mystical World. Yes, still on that crystal kick but hey, if it's something small that focuses your perspective and is nice to look at, I'm all about it. Next stop, splurging on athleisure @ Outdoor Voices. Ladies, if you need life-changing pants, get your peachy bums into these. For once, it's amazing to have a stretchy pair of pants that make me feel like a goddess. And I forget how adorable Hayes Street is. Of course, I needed a photo of #thatpinkwall near Miette but found myself drawn to this lime beauty on the left. Snapping skies out my window has become a favorite past time and this weekend was no exception. I love how depending on the night or my mood, I see something different. Sometimes a fiery, cotton candy sky and other times, she's grey and mysterious. Either way, it doesn't matter, it's still a beauty and I love how I easily have 50 pictures of this scene and they are all different.
What's on tap for TC's week? I'm gearing up for a work trip to Orlando connecting with my #Banana crew and I can't wait. The stress of the week? What to pack and how much I can shove into my suitcase to have plenty of Tay moments. Our first stop once we land, dinner at a pink restaurant... how fitting. |