Being Erased

It's so weird being laid-off. If any of you have ever experienced it, you know that it's a jarring experience.
One moment you're a paid employee diligently doing you job, the next moment, if allowed, you're literally packing your office. That's it. You go from having an email, a blackberry, a client, a phone number, a security card to nothing. In some offices, emails are immediately shut down, computers disappear, your voice mail is erased, your security card no longer works and to top it off, you are escorted out and all you can take is your personal belongings like your handbag (they'll pack up the rest and send it to you).
Your clients are unaware, and so are your team members, sometimes even your boss or the person you report to had no idea. All they know is that you're not responding to their calls or emails. And there you are with maybe a box of personal belongings standing on the street corner saying to yourself, "This is it? Did that just really happen?" It's a surreal experience met by a harsh reality.
Meanwhile your box feels heavier and heavier by the moment as the weight of what just happened deepens in your vein, and yet you feel guilty about taking a taxi because of the cost. The next day you wake up and it definitely does not feel like you've entered the movie Ground-hog day. Instead you've enter the TV show, Lost. You keep thinking you hear your crackberry go off and run to your handbag to check it, but it's not there.You go on-line to check your email but then you remember you no longer have one. And if you do have a personal one, your ex-co-workers most likely don't have it nor do they have your personal numbers. If they do, some may feel uncomfortable to call, so you may never hear from them. And then, poof - it's like you no longer exist in that corner of the world that only consumed 85% of your life if not more. It's done, it's over, move on - the tie is severed, and name is no longer in the directory.
Now go out and make a new name for yourself - put yourself back into existence.

Handbag Envy

Recently, I read an interesting article about the precious handbag in Brandweek. Essentially, it compared handbags as being emotionally-charged as a woman's diamond. I'm not sure if that's taking it a bit far, but I do agree that handbags (a.k.a., purse; pocketbook) have become the must-have accessory.

The fetish for shoes now has a rival - the handbag.

For some women, handbags may be leading the way as their new fetish.

When you think about it, handbags are the one true accessory that looks good on ANYONE! No matter if you are young, old, heavy, thin, making six-figures or in credit card debt, a great handbag can always be envied! Shoes don't have that ability. You can easily negate the envy idea of a sexy pair of shoes on someone because you know you could never walk a NYC block with those 3-inch heels. But a handbag on the other hand, even if it's slightly larger than you might be known to wear or extremely more expensive than you can afford, still can stir up your fashionista fantasies of what it would look like thrown over your shoulder dashing through the airport on your way to some jet-set destination.
See what I mean? - this now practically stylish bag has transported me from a thing that carries my stuff to a ticket to a living a glamorous lifestyle.
Where's your handbag taking you?

From Working to Not-Working Mom

I've always dreamed about being a stay-at-home mom, and as of yesterday, I am.
Massive lay-off, and it hit me. Sad? Yes. Mourning the change? Yes. Somehow delighted and relieved? Yes. Worried about $? Yes, yes, and yes. There's a mix of emotions certainly, and of course, after being in corporate America where the structure of your day is more or less defined, it's a bit daunting to now be back in charge of your day or for that matter - yourself.
What the heck am I going to do with myself? Yes, if you're wondering I already hit the gym.
Will I be happy? Will I find fulfillment? Will I became a mom-preneur and be profitable? Will I find myself, my purpose, my passion and my motherhood skills? Oh yes, that's something I could do is spend time with my kids! And, maybe in between, I'll make some mom friends over lattes (obviously, skim).
I do have some job interviews in my glamorous profession coming up, and six figures are definitely nice to have in the city, if not necessary - but what is freedom worth?
Mmmm - can you get paid for blogging?

Working Out Mom, Never So Sane

Monday couldn't have started out better. Rain, rain and more rain that makes a whole city declare an accepted state of tardiness. So what's a mom to do after dropping jr. off at school. That's right, if you're like me, an addicted workout mom, you pounce on the opportunity for some gym time. Rain, nor floods will stop a majority of NY moms from burning calories from last night's more-than-5 oz glass of pure antioxidant vino and 72% dark chocolate. Not even being late for work - especially on rainy days like today.
Honestly, how are moms supposed to do it if they don't steal the time whenever they can?
It's not like our jobs, hubby's, babysitters or schedules are thrilled about us not being there to muli-task and manage every minute of every day. In a time of "hot moms" and always being pulled in many directions, isn't it nice to hop on the treadmill, stick in your ipod ear phones and zone out to entertainment reality news like Extra, Top Model or even The Hills and be glad you're life hasn't become exploited reality on Super Nanny (although you secretly wish she would show up at your doorstep sans the cameras).
The way I see it, being in"the zone" while working out has taken on a new meaning - beyond burning the belly fat from my last child 5 years ago. It's a 30-minute reprive of reality that enables oneself to experience pure and healthy self-sanity.
Rain hats off to your zone of sanity!