Friday, February 26, 2010
The weekend!
I am so happy that it's finally the weekend! Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow morning and make french toast in the morning with berry syrup. Ahh...sleep.. zzz..
Hosting a Perfect Brunch!
My family has been pressuring me to host brunch for the ladies and I finally gave in! Last time I hosted brunch, it was at my first apartment that I bought on my own. Now, it's the first time that they are going to see my new downtown condo that I bought with my boyfriend. I'm usually not very good at hosting these types of things, but I am determined to become a master! Here are some tips that I found on how to host the most perfect brunch!
- Plan the food menu- it's not unacceptable to have your guests bring a dish so allocate a simple item for each guest to bring with them.
- The most classic choice is to have eggs included in the main dish.
- Other menu ideas can include pastries, muffins, a fruit platter, french toast, poached egg on toast, a fruit yogurt and granola parfait, eggs benedict, hashbrowns, pancakes, quiche, omelettes, scones, crepes, desserts or cookies for afterwards.
- Plan your drink menu- Coffee? Absolutely. Mimosas? Even better. Be sure to have a little sugar and milk or cream available for the coffee drinkers.
- Choose a stanard and easy menu if you have lots of guests.
- Send out your invitation. A breakfast-themed brunch is best served around 10am.
- If anything can be made ahead of time- make it ahead of time!
- Brunch is best served (and most easily served) buffet-style.
- Make utensil-friendly food and supply spoons where the coffee service is.
- Be sure to provide salt, pepper, hot sauce and softened butter for those who like to add a little something to their food. Salsa is another item that will spice up hashbrowns or egg dishes.
- Enjoy! Here are some yummy photos to get you inspired!
images via arimou0, BlackwoodBob, evilmidori, jennaaaye, vrot01
- Plan the food menu- it's not unacceptable to have your guests bring a dish so allocate a simple item for each guest to bring with them.
- The most classic choice is to have eggs included in the main dish.
- Other menu ideas can include pastries, muffins, a fruit platter, french toast, poached egg on toast, a fruit yogurt and granola parfait, eggs benedict, hashbrowns, pancakes, quiche, omelettes, scones, crepes, desserts or cookies for afterwards.
- Plan your drink menu- Coffee? Absolutely. Mimosas? Even better. Be sure to have a little sugar and milk or cream available for the coffee drinkers.
- Choose a stanard and easy menu if you have lots of guests.
- Send out your invitation. A breakfast-themed brunch is best served around 10am.
- If anything can be made ahead of time- make it ahead of time!
- Brunch is best served (and most easily served) buffet-style.
- Make utensil-friendly food and supply spoons where the coffee service is.
- Be sure to provide salt, pepper, hot sauce and softened butter for those who like to add a little something to their food. Salsa is another item that will spice up hashbrowns or egg dishes.
- Enjoy! Here are some yummy photos to get you inspired!
images via arimou0, BlackwoodBob, evilmidori, jennaaaye, vrot01
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Brand Yourself Brilliant
Here are some ways to enhance your image at work:
- Organize your desk-your desk is "the visual". Your boss, your coworkers, your clients- everyone sees your desk.
- Be courteous- Being polite and respectful not only boosts your image; it also builds consensus and helps move projects forward.
- Look at your circle of friends- try to make friends with coworkers that you admire and want to be like. It's easy to assume that all friends are alike when they are seen together.
- Network with politically astute employees or managers who are higher up than you are and have a strong work ethic. Consider these people your
mentors and learn as much as you can about their mannerisms. Affiliate with winners and you'll be seen as a winner.
- Stay away from gossip.
- Be proactive- waiting until you have to be told what to do is very unattractive.
- Have good judgement- Good judgment involves thinking before you speak and act.
- Be a team player- Contributing to your team will get you some good reviews that are ultimately heard by your employer.
- Follow proper email etiquette.
- Help others- How much would you appreciate someone stepping in to help to meet a stressful deadline?
- Empathize in others situations by seeing both sides of arguements.
- Dress the part- This doesn't mean you have to dress to the nines every day, but sloppiness doesn't exactly scream "I deserve to be promoted".
- Be a solver- A solver is someone that sees the issue and immediately prepares smart solutions. Instead of waiting for someone to tell you what to do, be part of the strategy.
Most of all, it's what we do that defines who we are. Demonstrate your value through actions and affiliations and you'll create a new, powerful office image as a valuable resource that deserves respect.
image via Apartment Therapy
- Organize your desk-your desk is "the visual". Your boss, your coworkers, your clients- everyone sees your desk.
- Be courteous- Being polite and respectful not only boosts your image; it also builds consensus and helps move projects forward.
- Look at your circle of friends- try to make friends with coworkers that you admire and want to be like. It's easy to assume that all friends are alike when they are seen together.
- Network with politically astute employees or managers who are higher up than you are and have a strong work ethic. Consider these people your
mentors and learn as much as you can about their mannerisms. Affiliate with winners and you'll be seen as a winner.
- Stay away from gossip.
- Be proactive- waiting until you have to be told what to do is very unattractive.
- Have good judgement- Good judgment involves thinking before you speak and act.
- Be a team player- Contributing to your team will get you some good reviews that are ultimately heard by your employer.
- Follow proper email etiquette.
- Help others- How much would you appreciate someone stepping in to help to meet a stressful deadline?
- Empathize in others situations by seeing both sides of arguements.
- Dress the part- This doesn't mean you have to dress to the nines every day, but sloppiness doesn't exactly scream "I deserve to be promoted".
- Be a solver- A solver is someone that sees the issue and immediately prepares smart solutions. Instead of waiting for someone to tell you what to do, be part of the strategy.
Most of all, it's what we do that defines who we are. Demonstrate your value through actions and affiliations and you'll create a new, powerful office image as a valuable resource that deserves respect.
image via Apartment Therapy
Monday, February 22, 2010
Stripes! Part II
Another way to decorate your home with stripes is with textiles, accessories and furniture.
via camillestyles
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The 20-60-20 Rule
When I was reading David Bach's "Start Late and Finish Rich
" book (I can't resist, I love his books!), something called the 20-60-20 Rule was brought up in the section that promotes you to ask for a raise. The 20-60-20 Rule divides employees in a company into three categories of performance.
20% of Employees are Weak Performers
These people have no clue. They always seem to come into work late, with personal issues always seeming to get in the way of productivity. Employees like this usually need to be supervised. They do the bare minimum and "punch the clock" every day.
60% are Average Performers
These people are hard workers and have the best intentions when coming into work. When the boss is away, they might be slacking off but usually do what they are supposed to do.
20% are Star Performers
These people come to work on time (probably arriving early and staying late) and do their jobs well. They understand what results are required of them and have the necessary skills to deliver. They are always honest and respect coworkers, clients and customers. You will be able to find these employees working, even when their boss is away.
Everyone should have an idea on which category they fall into. If you don't like the category that you fall into, you should decide to change a few things on how you are branding yourself at work. I personally find this extremely important because branding is the image or perspective that your boss has of you. Your image (if it's a good one) is the reason that you will have the opportunity get raises, promotions, time off, more benefits... the list goes on. I will be featuring future posts on how you can "brand yourself" at work. The same way a marketing company advertises or uses "branding" to promote a product, you should be doing the same to promote yourself.
" book (I can't resist, I love his books!), something called the 20-60-20 Rule was brought up in the section that promotes you to ask for a raise. The 20-60-20 Rule divides employees in a company into three categories of performance.20% of Employees are Weak Performers
These people have no clue. They always seem to come into work late, with personal issues always seeming to get in the way of productivity. Employees like this usually need to be supervised. They do the bare minimum and "punch the clock" every day.
60% are Average Performers
These people are hard workers and have the best intentions when coming into work. When the boss is away, they might be slacking off but usually do what they are supposed to do.
20% are Star Performers
These people come to work on time (probably arriving early and staying late) and do their jobs well. They understand what results are required of them and have the necessary skills to deliver. They are always honest and respect coworkers, clients and customers. You will be able to find these employees working, even when their boss is away.
Everyone should have an idea on which category they fall into. If you don't like the category that you fall into, you should decide to change a few things on how you are branding yourself at work. I personally find this extremely important because branding is the image or perspective that your boss has of you. Your image (if it's a good one) is the reason that you will have the opportunity get raises, promotions, time off, more benefits... the list goes on. I will be featuring future posts on how you can "brand yourself" at work. The same way a marketing company advertises or uses "branding" to promote a product, you should be doing the same to promote yourself.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Laura Bucci Handmade from Etsy.com
Laura Bucci is a local Vancouver designer who makes beautiful handmade wallets, pouches and eco cup cozies. Her products can be viewed at her Etsy Shop- Laura Bucci Handmade. All of her products are made with natural linen and are paired with modern/retro textile designs. I love these motorcycle cup cozies for a sunday morning latte. Mmmm so cute.
Stripes!
Stripes are a way to make a room look exquisite. We are going to paint our powder room with wide stripes in a creamy or silvery colour. I think it will totally finish off the powder room and make it look so much better! Here are some photos that I'm going to use as inspiration:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Goal-Setting
Goal-setting is an extremely important element to anyone who wants to get ahead in life. Goals are incredibly important because they are your road map to success. After all, how do you know how to get there, if you don't know where you're going??? The fact of the matter is, people who know what their goals are and who manage them properly are extremely more likely to achieve those goals.
A. Attainable
R. Relevant
T. Timely
Specific
Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.
Specific is the What, Why, and How. For example, instead of having “save more money” as a goal, it is more powerful to say “I want to save $150 by the end of every month by setting up an automatic deduction from me checking account."
WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.
WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?
HOW are you going to do it? (By...)
Measurable
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.
Attainable
Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to doing. Simple as that! When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.
A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you.
Realistic
Realistic means do-able.It is important to set goals that you can achieve. This happens when you don't know what exactly is involved when you set those goals.
Timely
Set a time frame for the goal: for next week, in three months... Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
If you don't set a time, the commitment tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.
Remember:
State each goal as a positive statement- 'Execute this technique well' is a much better goal than 'Don't make this stupid mistake.'
Write goals down- This crystallizes them and gives them more force. I recommend writing short term goals (within the next year) and long-term goals (within 5 years) and your method of achieving or action plan for these goals.
Remember to update your goals at least once a year and that goals turn your dreams into a reality, so get going!!!
photo via ICT_photo from Flickr
Goal setting is an important method of:
* Deciding what is important for you to achieve in your life.
* Separating what is important from what is irrelevant or redundant.
* Motivating yourself and getting ahead.
Here are a few important tips to keep in mind when setting your own personal goals. It is essential that goals follow the following s.m.a.r.t. criteria:
S. Specific
M. MeasurableA. Attainable
R. Relevant
T. Timely
Specific
Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.
Specific is the What, Why, and How. For example, instead of having “save more money” as a goal, it is more powerful to say “I want to save $150 by the end of every month by setting up an automatic deduction from me checking account."
WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.
WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?
HOW are you going to do it? (By...)
Measurable
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.
Attainable
Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to doing. Simple as that! When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.
A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you.
Realistic
Realistic means do-able.It is important to set goals that you can achieve. This happens when you don't know what exactly is involved when you set those goals.
Timely
Set a time frame for the goal: for next week, in three months... Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
If you don't set a time, the commitment tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.
Remember:
State each goal as a positive statement- 'Execute this technique well' is a much better goal than 'Don't make this stupid mistake.'
Write goals down- This crystallizes them and gives them more force. I recommend writing short term goals (within the next year) and long-term goals (within 5 years) and your method of achieving or action plan for these goals.
Remember to update your goals at least once a year and that goals turn your dreams into a reality, so get going!!!
photo via ICT_photo from Flickr
Monday, February 15, 2010
How to decorate your cubicle at work
Working in a cubicle can be exhausting. When you work in the environment where you are happy, your productivity increases and you stay alert for longer time. Personalizing your workspace can give a flow to your creativity and help you enjoy your work better.
Byron Edwards via Flickr
Love that chair!
Here are a few tips to keep you inspired during work hours:
- Make copies of your favourite photos to frame and pin up around your desk. This will make your workspace feel like home.
- Buy a small indoor plant (just one!) and clear a spot for it on your desk. This will provide extra oxygen to your space and they soak up pollutants. Be careful that your space doesn’t look like a vinyard (i.e. too many plants = messy and unprofessional)! Take small and easy to care for plants and make sure they don’t wilt or die. Plants like croton, peace lily, caladium and small cacti are good choices for your cubicle.
- Pin up a few postcards. For amazingly cute postcards, check out Beaumonde Cards.
- Buy a delightful desk lamp that offsets the awful overhead lighting.
- Pin up a calendar of something you enjoy- like for shoes!
- Set a beautiful background as your computer screen.
- Get a pretty mouse pad with an attractive design or colour.
- Consider chic paper organizers or accessories like these.
- Consider a magnetic board to post notes on.
- Bring in your own coffee mug.
- Paste inspirational quotes to your wall.
- Add a bulletin board with a beautiful pattern or design.
Keep in mind that too many changes to your cubicle will make you look unprofessional. Before plunging into decorating, make sure that you verify what is actually permitted in your place of work!
Byron Edwards via Flickr
Love that chair!
Here are a few tips to keep you inspired during work hours:
- Make copies of your favourite photos to frame and pin up around your desk. This will make your workspace feel like home.
- Pin up a few postcards. For amazingly cute postcards, check out Beaumonde Cards.
- Buy a delightful desk lamp that offsets the awful overhead lighting.
- Pin up a calendar of something you enjoy- like for shoes!
- Set a beautiful background as your computer screen.
- Get a pretty mouse pad with an attractive design or colour.
- Consider chic paper organizers or accessories like these.
- Consider a magnetic board to post notes on.
- Bring in your own coffee mug.
- Paste inspirational quotes to your wall.
- Add a bulletin board with a beautiful pattern or design.
Keep in mind that too many changes to your cubicle will make you look unprofessional. Before plunging into decorating, make sure that you verify what is actually permitted in your place of work!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Love is all around
"A kiss is a lovely trick, designed by nature, to stop words when speech becomes superfluous."
-Ingrid Bergmen
nicole graether via flickr
-Ingrid Bergmen
Saturday, February 13, 2010
happy valentine's day!
Happy Valentine's day! Here are a few lovely photo's to get you into the spirit!
andrew jalali, bananagranola, barbara ferra, dolpharius <3, honey.huckabee, pk.peka, romeo'smom, whipped bakeshop via Flikr.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
business-savvy hopeful
I graduated from college with a diploma in Business Management and boy would I have loved to make it big in the business world right away. But after working as a project assistant for almost 2 years now, I am realizing that everyone has to start at the bottom and work their way up. I'm on a journey to do just that! Stick with me ;)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
pretty home offices spaces
Nothing promotes inspiration like gorgeous and feminine home offcies and work areas... Here are my favourites from House & Home
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Epiphany Living
My first post is about the name of this blog. "Epiphany", according to dictionary.com, has the following meanings:
or
This is what I hope to achieve with this blog. Not only do I want to inspire la femme moderne but also to create a place where we can evolve as women to become the people we want to be in life! I hope you enjoy my musings on business, careers, home life, interior design, books, art, cooking, advice, photos and DIYs.
xox
A sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
or
A literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.
This is what I hope to achieve with this blog. Not only do I want to inspire la femme moderne but also to create a place where we can evolve as women to become the people we want to be in life! I hope you enjoy my musings on business, careers, home life, interior design, books, art, cooking, advice, photos and DIYs.
xox
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