MPS Newsstand: Atlanta Magazine May 2009

The Good:

• Bill Addison’s cover story “Eat Cheap!” – what more could we broke folks want? Even if you’re jobless, you still need to eat…once in a while, somewhere outside your home among the living. Addison offers metro Atlanta “bargain bites” you can afford.  My favorite spots include Souper Jenny (grilled cheese night!), MetroFresh(love the Mitchilli), George’s burgers, everything at Carver’s Country Kitchen  (get there before 11:30 a.m. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
• Charles at Large’s Agenda column on make-out spots in Atlanta. Good news! Most of them are cheap (Starlight Six Drive-in) or downright free (Dusty’s Barbecue parking lot on Briarcliff). Making out – cheap and easy? Oh, that’s just too good
• Recession Obsession on pg. 32 – some interesting Bible verses interpreting lending and loved ones
• Focus on Lila, pg. 44 – cute new shop in Inman Park with affordable accessories and fun, flirty frocks
• Kamal Grant’s doughnut shop called Sublime Doughnuts, pg. 58 – cheap treat; can’t wait to go!

The Bad:

• Cold-Hearted Cure – How hypothermia can save your life, pg. 28 – frankly, who cares???
• Are Atlanta’s Streets Really Becoming More Dangerous? pg. 40 – just makes me nervous to go to my car at night
• Review of BLT Steak, pp. 50-55 – who in the hell can afford to go?

The Ugly:

• Deep Freeze, one woman’s story about freezing eggs to stop the biological clock, pp. 76-80, 88-91 – can I say depressed? In this issue, all I want to know about eggs is where to get a good three-egg omelet for pennies. Even more, Miss Pink Slip’s 35th birthday is coming up, I’m single and this is the last thing I want to think about. I realize this is personal, but hey! It’s my blog 

The Verdict: Four Pink Slips – the food guide alone is worth the purchase price!

I’m Off Today at the Inman Park Festival! Come Join Me!

It is an AMAZING day here in Atlanta, and the Inman Park Fest is
kicking off with its annual parade (which is a sight for all senses) at 2 p.m. today. Not sure who the grand marshall is this year, but whoever it is cannot even hopt to beat 2007’s grandest of them all grand marshall, Baton Bob.

Festival goes through Sunday and is one of my favorite times of the year. Great food, art booths, jewelry designers, etc. But, the best part is, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a fabulous time around the best neighborhood in town! I’m a little partial…

ATL Social Butterfly Says TLC’s “What Not To Wear” Coming to Atlanta

…and they’re looking for extras. For more details, visit the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s resident socialite, the Social Butterfly, via the link below!

http://tinyurl.com/cfabra

TLC’s “What Not to Wear” is one of my all-time favorite shows, and it is the cheapest fashion consultant you can hire! I learn something new from Stacy and Clinton every time I watch–no matter how dire the case.     I <heart> me some Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.

On one episode, a woman actually owned and wore a shiny black lycra jumpsuit with plunging neckline to show houses; on another, one clueless clothes horse owned a pair of lucite slide sandals with light-up heels…. so many reasons to catch this program! Built-in trainwrecks. 🙂

Suddenly Frugal’s “Free Stuff Friday” to Be Ongoing Friday Column

Head on over and visit Leah at Suddenly Frugal–she launches Free Stuff Friday today!

http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/

Pink Pick: Ask E. Jean

I love E. Jean Carroll. I’ve read her column in Elle for years. She’s like that friend who tells you when your jeans are too tight or that perhaps the guy you’re seeing ain’t up to no good. Honesty, pure and simple with a touch of manners and class. That’s E. Jean.

If you’re having a problem with the job hunt, dating, your mother, friends, bikini waxes, whatever…E. Jean is there. Just plug your question into the form provided on her home page, and she’ll respond! The site pulls keywords from your question and matches them up with similar answers she’s provided for women just like us over the years.

Awesome! And no co-pay or COBRA needed!

http://www.askejean.com/

MPS Newsstand: Martha Stewart Living May 2009

The Good:

• “The Culture of Color”, pp. 110 – 119. Good thoughts that could spur inexpensive, creative ideas
• “Pizza Hot from the Oven”, pp. 120 – 127. Great ideas for entertaining. Trader Joe’s has awesome pizza dough that you can shape, toss and top with anything from fresh mozzarella to roasted onion to heirloom tomatoes. Fun for a group dinner at home
• “Fit to Eat” feature on Mexican meals, pp. 150 – 153. See “Pizza” comments above
• Sidebar titled “Breathe”, p. 40 – about the benefits of deep breathing, something we can all benefit from
• “In the Pink” feature, pp. 88-90 – showcases five quality rose wines under $18 along with meal pairing ideas
• Do-it-yourself Mother’s Day craft on p. 46. Now, I wouldn’t make my own “tea sachets” for Mom, but hey…you might!

The Bad:

• “Holding Power” feature on favorite handbags, pp. 56 – 62. Gorgeous, but there are no prices listed. Is that akin to a restaurant menu with no prices? Either way, we can’t afford any of them
• All decorating features – beautiful to look at but completely expensive and impractical. A girl can dare to dream

The Ugly:

• “10 (More) Things a Fork Can Do” on p. 50 – I mean, really. Do I really need Martha to tell me that my normal dinner fork can be used to spear a pickle from a jar? Come on. Now, give me “10 (More) Things a Spork Can Do”, and that could be handy
• “Bouquets by the Batch” on p. 53. Honestly. I can think of a hell of a lot more practical things I could be doing besides making sugar cookies, decorating them to look like flowers and arranging them in a wheatgrass “meadow”
• “Beets, Unearthed”, p. 78. Yuck. All I can say

Verdict: Two Pink Slips. Pretty to look at and fun recipes, but not really practical on any level.

Pink Pick: Throw Paper

Play like you’re back in the office, bored, listening to your boss drone on and on about some bullsh*t on a conference call. What to do? Well, throw paper, of course.

My man friend directed me to this fun site where you can play wastebasket b-ball in a virtual, eco-friendly manner. Very entertaining, mindless and addictive. Enjoy!

http://www.widro.com/throwpaper.html

Pink Pick: Suddenly Frugal

Check out Leah Ingram’s great tips and advice for living on the cheap. She’s thinking about adding a regular Free Fridays feature very soon. Go on her site and vote for it to happen!

http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/

What Job Seekers Can Learn from Miss California vs. Perez Hilton

Before I go any further with this post, let me say that I support equal rights for everyone and have no feelings against gay marriage. I shouldn’t even have to disclose that, but I really don’t want to have to wade through misdirected hate mail.

Despite all the hubbub and grating media attention (does Donald Trump really need another platform?), there are lessons to be learned from the recent Miss California vs. Perez Hilton scandal. And, yes, they are very applicable for those networking and on the job hunt.

Carrie Prejean absolutely had a right to express herself in the Miss USA pageant. Why did she have to spout off a politically correct answer when she obviously has strong opinions in one clear direction? Do we really want our girls looking up to women who play it safe and display no gumption when it comes to their beliefs? After all, freedom of speech is one of the most important rights we have as U.S. citizens, and everyone should be allowed his/her opinion.

The same goes for those out on the job market. First of all, unless you’re interviewing for a position at a related non-profit or religious organization, you should not have to defend any personal beliefs–nor should you have to address them in the first place.

So, don’t be afraid to be real. Be yourself.  That’s the only way you’ll land in a place you embrace and choose to grow in your career. You should be proud of who you are and where you work. It speaks volumes and shows potential employers and clients that you’re a quality gal with integrity.

And if you don’t win a job or work position because of your beliefs? Then you can’t dwell on it. It may mean you’re meant for different, perhaps better things. Miss USA – or your employment equivalent – may not be the be all and end all of life. Put things in perspective!

(Photo: AP/Eric Jamison)

Happy Earth Day, Pink Slip Nation!

10 free things the jobless can do to help save the Earth:

1. If you aren’t interviewing, skip a hair wash. Better yet, if you’re staying in, skip the whole shower and save water! 🙂
2. Email all resumes, if possible
3. Use a job search tracker online like HappyJobSearch.com instead of filling up various notepads with contact names, random notes, etc.
4. Turn off the TV and read to escape (something fun–not the latest unemployment numbers)
5. Leave your car in the garage and take a stress-relieving walk outside
6. Join your neighborhood clean up crew
7. Give your laptop a much needed “coffee break” (i.e., turn it off and unplug it when not in use)
8. Volunteer some free time to an environmental organization or charity
9. Hook up with your neighborhood community garden. You could come away with some awesome tomatoes or squash in the process
10. Search for a Green Job:  http://www.environmentalcareer.info/index.asp
    http://www.greenjobs.com/public/index.aspx
    http://www.greenjobs.net/
    http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs

Got any other ideas? Send them my way!