You tried it on in store, flawless. Great hemline, well-constructed, and a work appropriate neckline. You look sharp. You buy it, take it home, try it on again, and its still love. Then it hangs in your closest till the first suitable day to show it off.

It’s finally time to model your new fashion fab accomplishment and you can’t wait. You rip the tags off and accessorize with a simple bracelet and killer cute, yet comfortable kitten heels. You’re fierce and ready to take on the corporate world.

Then you get in your car or the train, and sit. Oh no, there’s an uncomfortable tight feeling around your waist. Too late to change or do anything about it now. Long 9 hour day ahead.

All you can do is sit back, relax and be thankful you have a reclining chair, or maybe you’re extra lucky and have a standing desk. All of this avoidable if only you sat on the stool in the dressing room while trying on your dress and not use it as a purse holder. Oh well, lesson learned.

We spend more daytime hours at work than we do at home.  You can’t take the all of life’s necessities with you, but having the essentials on standby make for a more productive and efficient work day.

1. Cough drops - Not only should they be in your desk drawer, you should have them in your pockets. Although empathy is on your side in the case of a coughing fit, nobody wants you to set a world record for coughing interruptions while they are trying to rock a presentation they've poured their heart and soul into.
2. Mini umbrella - Haven't had time to follow the weather because you've got the corporate world to take over? Have no fear, the umbrella in your drawer will have you looking prepared.  Confidently dodge puddles during the walk to the train station and stay dry. Tip, don't forget to bring the umbrella back the next day.
3. Sewing kit - peek a boo the buttons in your shirt could use another button or two. Fear not, grab a safety pin and keep Vicky a secret. Hem coming undone, no worries. Safety pin it and get through the day looking pulled together.
4. Travel sized first aid kit with pain relief meds - paper cuts happens and so do headaches. Be prepared and don't get caught off guard. You need to be at full strength to slay it at your 10 o’clock meeting.
5. Chocolate or your snacking vice - chocolate is the elixir that fixes just about any workplace drama that erupts. Before you fight fire with fire, indulge in your snacking vice.  Take a deep breathe and take the high road. As Michelle so eloquently said, “when they go low, we go high.”
6. A box of plastic cutlery or a set of the real deal - don't be the office lunchtime mooch.  Get a box and keep it stacked. Play office hero at times and save the day with a spoon for your office pal who desperately needs protein in the form of a Greek yogurt.

Bonus - Mini lint brush, because Fluffy wanted some cuddle time before you left this morning doesn’t mean everyone needs to know. White fur on black pants fashion statement is not a thing, at least not yet.

There once was a young lady wearing a daytime elegant free-flowing maxi dress (in a corporate environment).

Color and print – nice and subtle, paired with a summer cardigan for no shoulder or arm exposure.  Great length, hitting her ankles, no cleavage exposure, and awesome natural makeup contrasted with a pair of super cute earrings.

A confident, self-assured modern day sophisticate.
But something was oh so wrong!

It started out a cloudy day.  The glass window panes initially told no tell.  But the sun came out and every time she walked by, oh no, see-through sunlight exposure.

See-through cover up at the beach, cute.  See-through pants, skirts, blouses, and dresses that leave nothing to the imagination, so not cute.

Many wonderful traditions get passed down from generation to generation such as how to tastefully accessorize and crossing your legs like a lady.  But the art of the slip is one that seems to be lost on younger generations.

Ladies when in doubt on see through coverage, please slip it, or at least carry one for when the need for one is realized.

Originally featured on Modernfrock.com

Getting dressed in the dark to allow your squeeze a few extra Zzzs can lead to fashion mishaps. Regardless of the cause of your last fashion faux pas, cultivating envious style means experimentation and trying - essences of #fashion #success.  Flops are not losses, but lessons to enable success for the next go at it!  So, here are a few fashion quotes to help get you past a wardrobe failure and to keep stylin’/trying.

Strangers to Ourselves - Modest Mouse

Make a great album! And that’s exactly what Modest Mouse did with "Strangers to Ourselves".

In case you missed its 2015 release or are looking for good new music before the holiday madness arrives, check out "Strangers to Ourselves."

A casual purveyor of this Issaquah, Washington band, I liked "Float On" and "Dashboard" enough. I even legally procured both songs. Might just be timing, or maybe I’ve matured enough to truly appreciate their harmonious reverberations. But there’s a joyous, deliberately moody natural flow to “Strangers to Ourselves” that keeps your ears and soul wanting more.

Maybe it's just me, but there’s something a little special about albums whose title songs start or end the album. It creates a holistic album completeness when that title phrase is used on another track at the opposite end.

Strangers to Ourselves appropriately kicks off with "Strangers to Ourselves" and the phrase “strangers to ourselves” delights us close to the tail end of the album in the song “The Tortoise and the Tourist.” "Lampshades on Fire," the first studio release off the album is second and my primary motivator for buying into the genius of the album. In addition to the aforementioned, my personal favorites are Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996), Coyotes, and "The Ground Walks with Time in a Box."  Other songs like "Pups to Dust" and "Be Brave" are cool, just a case of “to each their own.”

With each listen, I transform more and more to a fanatic. Each song an obsession that needs to be felt live. Definitely not a Stranger to this album (I can’t resist a pun).

HOW TO BE HERE - ROB BELL

Here I was at the doctor's office trying to kill time. I had recently ordered a book from Amazon that was preparing to ship.

Amazon reviews were good and the author was recently on a news program discussing his book. He was personable and his message resonated with me. I could tell it also resonated with the two hosts of the show. They were eagerly engaged and seemed rather sincere about it.

So, what happened when I googled the book's title - "How To Be Here?" Google gave me directions to where I was. Ha! No wonder the book had paid SEO advertising. Can't compete with Google.

I love the title of the book, but it sparked a thought.  Did the author and publisher evaluate the SEOness of book's title? Did they perform due diligence on Google's competitor space before settling on the title they chose?

Think about it, how productive and cost effective would it be if more brands not only tested copyright and legals regarding availability and use of a name for a new product, but its Google SEO potential and rank. If they researched what the cost of paid search versus organic infiltration were.

Food for thought... think about it and let the thought marinate. Yep!

If you don't believe me, preview the songs and try not to click BUY!

1. Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Redemption song - Bob Marley
3. Like a prayer - Madonna
4. Under my thumb - Rolling Stones (thank you Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World for reminding me of the awesomess of that song)
5. Enjoy the silence - Depeche Mode
6. Possession - Sarah Mclachlan
7. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
8. Day after day - Badfinger (super perfect for a moody rainy day)
9. You know I'm no good - Amy Winehouse (a young song that will stand the test of time)
10. Umbrella - Rihanna 

Honorable Mentions:
Cigarettes Daydreams - Cage The Elephant; The Scientist / Yellow - Coldplay; Got to give it up - Marvin Gaye; Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation; Room at the top - Adam Ant; Modern Love - David Bowie; Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

Next time life's got you down, you're feeling tired and bogged down and ready to throw in the towel, remember these three "facts" about chocolate:

Dawn soap – Beyond getting wildlife rescues and dishes squeaky clean, dawn soap is excellent at getting makeup, pen marks, oil splatters, and most stubborn stains out of clothing! Fantastic, especially on delicate materials such as silk. Dab a little dawn over your stubborn spot, with a little bit of cold water, grab an old toothbrush and get brushing!

Club soda and/or salt – Probably wouldn’t make the best cocktail mix, well, unless you add some lime juice and tequila! But club soda and salt or salt as a stand-alone are great fixes for the ultimate party buzzkill - spilling a glass of red wine on a brand new silk top. You might have to take your top off, but pour some salt and a bit of club soda on your stain, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rise with cold water!

Spit – Yep, spit! Excellent for getting blood stains out, because the enzymes in your saliva and your blood are a perfect match!

Bonus: An alternative to getting bloodstains out would be to use hydrogen peroxide. Pour as needed over stain; let it sit for a couple minutes and washout with soap).

SHOES: the more uncomfortable, the happier the outfit; the more comfortable, the happier the feet!


Happy outfit and feet, thanks to my so fashionable patent leather dark red Sofft pumps :) Whoever said "you can't have your cake and eat it too" knew nothing about ingenuity!

Toasted Coconut Crusted Donut and Coffee

Whatever happened to the toasted coconut donut?  Discontinued a while back by Double D, I've missed its scrumptious goodness!  Missing it no more, at least not today.  Sweet treat from a very thoughtful officemate.  Thank you Sandy T. via Four Season Donut (Pennsville, NJ) #SimplePleasures...Yummy!

Spanish Rock Octopus

Foodie fit, La Fia in Wilmington, DE is a farm to table bakery and bistro and chef Bryan Sikora's latest venture.  If the chef sounds familiar, he should. He's the mastermind behind Django (Queens Village) and Talula's Table (Kennett Square). Django was an award-winning restaurant that ruled the Philadelphia Foodie scene during the Sikora years, also had one of my favorite dishes of all time. Talula's Table's accolades included being regarded as "The Toughest Table in America" and a slew of top restaurants list appearances.

Smoked Haddock

Chef Sikora's latest restaurant is a magnificently delicious addition to the Wilmington area dining scene. I enjoyed a lovely dinner from appetizer to dessert. Area resident foodies rejoice! Close to home there lays a decadent culinary option with easy parking.  Still dreaming of octopus.

AM - Arctic Monkeys

Turn Blue - The Black Keys

When it comes to Turn Blue, Don't believe the naysayers.  Older Black Keys fans continue to be up in arms over the progressive transition of the band's sound from hard-hitting soul and blues infused rock to an alternative groovy indie pop rock band.  Newer fans on the other hand appreciate the older Black Keys sound and love their steady evolution.  Variety is the spice of life and Turn Blue is delightfully so. "Weight of Love" sets the mood and "Year in Review" speeds up the pace.

Take Me to Church - Hozier

An EP with just four songs "Take Me to Church," also the name of the EP's title track is a passionate, enigmatic love song, with insightful and haunting lyrics.  Hozier, an Irish born soul blues rock singer has a newer EP, "From Eden," also with 4 songs.  The eight song sampling between both EPs has led to eager anticipation of Hozier's first full length album slated for September. We can all say "amen, amen" to that.

Happy Independence Day!!! 

So no Billy Idol's Rebel Yell during yesterday's commute. Cliché 4th of July fashion wins!!!

Red shorts - Anthropologie; navy and white striped cami- J. Crew Factory & navy blue summer sweater  and bracelet - J. Crew, black dress sandals - DSW Shoes 

For web designers, graphic designers, and developers, bookmarking Smashing Magazine is a must. The design community hub is packed with coding, design, and UX tools and advice.  Need direction on which fonts are trendy and supercool?  No worries, they've got you covered.


Inspiration nirvana, Pinterest is a graphic and web designer's dream come true! Search and browse curated boards to help get you out of a design block rut.


Packed with real-time articles, better bookmark articles you love!  Articles on Forbes' landing page are popularity based.  Here today and buried with other content tomorrow. Contributors furiously pump out content on trending topics ranging from pop culture to political news. Added bonus, awesome inspirational quotes are posted daily.


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Fun and flattering, with a tad bit of flirty, I'm wearing one of my favorite Anthropologie dresses. Anthro's Midday dress (sorry, no longer available except via eBay) is a causal effortless glamorous throwback piece.  The diagonal juxtaposition of its trendy stripes are flattering on most body types.

Accented with a black flower brooch, also from Anthropologie (also no longer available) and a black med sized belt, this dress can be dressed up with pumps and jewelry or dressed down.


DSW Thong Sandals

Perfect summer footwear!