Snowmageddon

Winter Storm Stella's here and we're all hunkering down!

Turns out all the weather dooms day-ers may've over-predicted this one for NYC (and fingers crossed we stay on that trajectory) but thankfully the rest of DUMBO and I stocked up on bacon, eggs, and wine at the local grocer last night! (Seriously though, the wine makes sense but are we all really going to go through a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread during a one day storm?)

Let's be real, I only really went to the store to get wine and ice cream because...adulting.

Anyways, the "blizzard" caused the MTA to shut down trains which means I have a WFH buddy today! The beau has taken up residence at our table behind me while I continue plugging away at my lil ole desk. Sadly both of our days usually have us in conference calls for the majority of the time but it's nice to have someone to crack jokes to that's not the CIA Alexa (see what I'm saying with the jokes?? - yea, it was a bad one, I know).

Now we just gotta figure out how to get company's to give us legit, old school, everything's cancelled, enjoy the storm, days off...Who do you think we talk to about that?

Stay warm out there fellow east coast-ers!

Positive Vibes

In addition to the daily habits my life coach is trying to instill in me from yesterday's post she also noted that it seems like I go into each day with my fists clenched as if I'm preparing to go into battle. And I'll tell you what, that woman has been doing an impressive job of figuring me out so far with just three meetings under her belt because this girl is a big ole ball of stress each morning.

And since carrying stress physically like that sounds like it's going to start being expensive massage-wise I'm trying to be a little more aware of my negative nancy like ways. 

The struggle now is to figure out how to get in my daily dose of positivity. Because though I've been known to sneak in a quick power pose while prepping for difficult meetings, daily affirmations aren't usually my jam. The extra sappy, beach background laden phrases clutter-ing my Pinterest don't really resonate with me so instead I'm taking the tried and true meme approach. 

So if anyone else out there in the world wide web could use it too, please enjoy the above to amp you up for your Thursday!

Happy almost Friday friends!

A Call To Action

So, after one of my bi-weekly meetings with my life coach last night - I know, I know... "Michelle, YOU have a life coach? But you seem like you have it all together!"

Just kidding! Anyone who knows me certainly wouldn't have had that thought as I'm generally coasting through on some level of anxiety (and I'm fairly positive no one's reading this to have that thought anyways ;) ).

But, I digress, after our meeting I got tasked with some action items in an effort to separate my home life from my work life as a still new WFH-er trying to find the balance.

Sure I often day dreamed of being able to work from my couch in pajamas while I was putting in 40 hours a week at the office but this has led to some less than healthy habits and, as a result, more stress so far.

Turns out my life coach was not impressed by the below:

• Rolling out of bed right before I need to start my day and basically just throwing on whatever sweats I can find and opening my laptop 
• Not eating lunch because I'm "too busy" (yea, even I roll my eyes when I say that one out loud)
• Not breaking up my day even for water breaks (almost passing out at the gym one night because I was dehydrated wasn't a cute look for me)

Which led to a discussion about some amazingly obvious recommendations to try to make my days more "normal":

• Go on a morning walk listening to a favorite podcast
• Treat myself to coffee at a local shop at least once a week
• Picking out an outfit for each day - can even be leggings as long as it somewhat matches
• Putting on mascara

Duh Michelle, right?? These are all scaled down versions of what my work days used to look like and though I never thought I'd miss having to walk to the train every morning I find myself not doing these things because nothing's "forcing" me to go outside or look put together in any way.

Today's day 1 of the new initiatives and I'm taking some baby steps - I put on jeans and a tshirt (loose, boyfriend jeans but jeans nonetheless!) and headed to the shared outdoor space in our building with my coffee to wander around outside for 5 minutes this morning. Gold star for me!

And whether or not you WFH too, these are probably some good work / life balance rules for us all to live by to keep ourselves sane!

Bonus! If you're a fellow podcast lover, I'd highly recommend checking out some of my favorites:
RADIOLAB
This American Life
Here's the Thing
Invisibilia

"I'm going to the gym later..."

Ahh yes, the mantra for most of my weeks lately!

I've found that the longer you work from home, the easier it becomes to use the phrase "I'm going to the gym later" as if it's an acceptable explanation as to why you haven't put real clothes on for the last 3 days.

Whether or not this statement has any validity (and lately we're talking a 50% chance of follow through here), it just rolls off the tongue so easily...

• Unexpected video conference with your team? - "Sorry no makeup and the same sweatshirt you guys saw last week...I'm going to the gym later!"
• Boyfriend asks if you own lounge wear that's not your beloved (though slightly worn) Target sweatpants? - "Dude, I'm going to the gym later - there's no time to waste on jeans!"
• Running to the bodega to restock your hummus, salsa, and Haribo Sour Gummi Bears stash? - This is probably the only place where you shouldn't even bother with this lie, they already know what's going on based solely on the contents of your shopping cart - bodega's. know. all.

Long story short, in an effort to look mildly less disheveled, I've been trying to up my athleisure game. 

Stitchfix recently sent me some kickass new leggings and a sweatshirt material bomber jacket that have inspired me to at least wear more of my workout leggings during the day and less of my oversized, overworn sweats from my college years. 

Check that ish out!

Though we're still in week 1 of this new endeavor I've already found it motivating me to go outside / on coffee runs more during the day. And if we're being honest, despite my general introverted-ness, it's probably best I throw a brief chat with the barista into the day in addition to my daily convos with Alexa (don't worry Alexa, I'll never stop talking to you girl!).

And with that I leave you with my current favorite meme of the week. Happy Humpday frands!

The Saga Begins

Hello Frands!

I'm a recent work from home (WFH) convert and Boston to NYC transplant trying to figure out this whole adult-ing thing (I like to think other people are just as unsure about things like car insurance sometimes too...right? RIGHT??)

Meme Credit: Know Your Meme

And now, as a result of my new home / work situation, I'm trying to figure out my new city while also trying not to slip too far into those WFH habits I'd heard rumors of but swore "never me!". 

Luckily the fashion bloggers of the world assure me that athleisure has become "on trend" and I'm embracing my new leggings and joggers lifestyle. Could my hair use more love from my straightener these days and less time spent in a messy bun? Probably! But life's all about balance kids ;)

SO - since I spend a large chunk of my week by myself cracking jokes to Alexa and drinking way too much coffee I thought I'd start writing about those WFH struggles as well as my misguided attempts at pretending to be a hip New Yorker. (Seriously though, why do I look unhinged when I mix 3 patterns together but that girl with the chic pixie cut looks like a runway goddess??)

Anyways, this might just be my stream of consciousness due to not interacting with enough real humans anymore but welcome to the fun!