Can you say stress?

This week is going to be a doozy! I'm not quite ready to share all of the details, so I hope you'll respect my privacy. People who know me well aren't used to me keeping my mouth shut (EVER!) or not returning phone calls. I probably owe a hundred apologies already and it may just get worse. But we all deal with stress and anxiety in our own ways. And I've tried to cope with mine as best as I could.

During the past few months, I've been very blessed with supportive family members and friends. I've also been very lucky to make some new friends through Miss Attitude. I want each and everyone of you to know how much I appreciate it. For me it's been challenging at times to remain positive. It was easy at first to put that spin on it and soldier on, but after a few months with no full-time job you start to lose a little faith. A little faith in yourself and in others. How could an employer not want to hire me? I'm fabulous! Didn't you read the Marie Claire article about me? Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, things are finally starting to look up for me and I couldn't be happier about the possibility of paying the bills with an income instead of the little that's left from my IRA. Yet, life is never quite as easy as we want it to be. And for once in my life I really feel like I don't have the answers. I know you're probably saying, "Who does have all the answers?" But honestly, I've always been good at knowing exactly what I want to do with my life career-wise and how to get there. And the not knowing is definitely unsettling for a type-A personality.

I'm very appreciative for the new opportunities I'm about to have. And I hope with a little time, my focus will become clearer. As I've often said, "If patience is a virtue, then I'm not virtuous!" And that is the honest to goodness truth! Sometimes I worry about every little thing and have a difficult time just going with the flow. I like to be in charge of everything. Yes, my friends and former employees alike can probably share some clear examples. But instead of feeling in charge lately, I've felt like I've been at the hands of others. It's a feeling I don't enjoy and find difficult to digest. And telling the stories of rejection over and over again, do not make you feel any better about yourself or where your life is headed.

I've had to remind myself, that I'm not alone in this feeling. In fact, the folks at Marie Claire wanted you to get that from the feature. I'd like to quote from the Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles:

"Closer to home, the pink slips are flying as mass corporate layoffs are becoming the norm. The good news is, if it happens to you, there's a very good chance you'll weather it in style, just like the women in our package 'Surviving a Layoff' (p. 94). As Carrie herself put it, after taking a memorable tumble on the runway, 'When real people fall down in life, like they get right back up and keep walking.' Amen to that!"



If you only read the article online, you missed this part. For me it was a pleasant surprise to be compared to Carrie Bradshaw. I know she's a fictional character, but she's also someone women across the country can relate to. She's an intelligent, successful and stylish woman. The woman you want to be, the woman you want to be friends with. And you know she has flaws, but you cheer for her too. So this was the highest compliment you could pay me. Well that, and the compliments from young women like a recent college graduate who e-mailed after reading about me in the magazine.

Dear Miss Attitude,

I'm a loyal Marie Claire reader and after reading about you in the latest issue I decided to check out your website. You seem like a successful woman with a great head on your shoulders and I could use your advice at this point in my life.

She goes on to talk about how she quit her job to re-locate back home. And then six months later found herself still out of work despite intense job search efforts.

I happen to think I have a pretty impressive resume for someone my age but I am starting to feel as if all my hard work and determination were for nothing. Some days I feel as if I have been stripped away of all my pride and confidence. To me, the worse part is knowing that I put myself in this position.

I responded to her e-mail with some advice, including something I needed to remind myself as well.

The one thing I have learned is you have to remain confident about your abilities. You have to remind yourself that all of that hard work did matter and be proud of what you've accomplished so far....
Use that determination you have to stay focused and eventually you will find another job. And keep in mind you may have to accept a position that isn't quite perfect. Sometimes we have to take smaller steps to reach a larger goal. Good luck with your search and keep me posted.

The other day I received an e-mail update and was excited to learn she's found a new job as an assistant to the mayor in her hometown. So perhaps having some faith in yourself is really all you need at the end of the day. And taking your own advice doesn't hurt either! So I know I'll get through this week just like I've gotten through everything else and come out better for it in the end. Just don't get upset if I don't return your phone call;)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Now that's customer service!

I finally heard back from Colgate this week about the Eco-friendly dishwasher detergent that wasn't friendly to my dishes. And I have to say, I'm extremely pleased with the response.



The enclosed was a check refund for the amount I paid for the detergent and coupons for several different Colgate products. I'm very impressed with the company's quick response and offer to back up its products or give you your money back. Right on Colgate!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. Click here if you missed the original post.

Happy 4th of July!

It's 4th of July and hopefully you have the day off to celebrate and watch the fireworks.
But before you head out the door, I want to know how patriotic you are. Do you know who wrote the Star Spangled Banner? How many stars and stripes were on the original United States flag? Who the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence was? Take this 4th of July trivia quiz.

And for an Independence Day smile, how about we rock it Muppets style?!?!?!




Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

It's a clean sweep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay fans brought the brooms and their team spirit. And the Rays did not disappoint. When the hometown team swept the Boston Red Sox with a 7-6 victory, the fans left Tropicana Field with the excitement of a playoff win. Let's face it, it's a nice feeling to be in first place AND beat the Red Sox three games in a row.

I actually wound up watching the game at Ferg's with my friends because we couldn't get tickets to the game. Well, we could have paid $50 a ticket, NOT! We made a last minute call to go, despite hearing it had been sold out. I thought for sure that was just hype. But, it wasn't. I'm not complaining though, I just love seeing the fans this excited.

It's amazing to watch a team go from having the worst record in the league last year, to the best this year. Plus, my neighbor pitched. Oh yeah, Scott Kazmir lives in my condo building. Okay, I still haven't run into him yet. But some of my friends who live here see him all the time! Then there's Rookie Evan Longoria, he was on fire with three runs. And of course, B.J. Upton who made an amazing catch in center field in the ninth inning which helped hold off the Red Sox.

And some fans had to work, but they still came out to celebrate as everyone left the Trop.



We passed these three firefighters with their brooms on our way out of downtown. Go Rays! I see playoffs in our future.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Please help make her number one!

Please vote for Courtney Courtney again. This week will be the last time I ask. Courtney and her fiance made the top three finalists for the $100,000 dream wedding by Us Weekly. Voting starts today and runs through next Wednesday. You can vote once every 24 hours.



If you don't remember me mentioning Courtney Courtney before, here's a little brief from the Website:
"I'm going to be Courtney Courtney - I love it!" jokes marketing rep Dempsey, 33. The Tampa resident has battled melanoma, breast cancer (she's had a double mastectomy plus reconstructive surgery), thyroid cancer and a lung condition — with insurance analyst Courtney, 37, by her side. "There's life after cancer and you can find somebody to fall in love with," she says.


You can read more about the happy couple in the issue of Us Weekly on newsstands now. And please don't forget to click here to vote for Courtney Courtney!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

I know I shouldn't laugh at this...

My friend Brooke posted this one on her blog and I couldn't resist "borrowing" it! It's freakin' hysterical. If you offend easily, you may want to skip this one. But keep in mind while it may be wrong, there's really nothing technically offensive about it.



Oh, come on! Definitely worth a giggle:)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Oh yeah! Thrasher's french fries!

Have you ever had Thrasher's french fries? If you haven't, you don't know what you are missing. These are simply the best french fries you'll ever have. And you can only get 'em on the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD. Thrasher's has been around for nearly 80 years. There are three locations on the boardwalk and the one closest to the inlet is always packed. People stand in line for Thrasher's all the time. Though to be honest, Thrasher's employees have the system down pat. And customers who don't, learn very quickly. Think Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. There are only two items on the menu, french fries and soda. And three sizes: small, medium and large. You order, you move down quickly and by the time you pay the fries and drink are ready. (The only complaint I've ever had is Thrasher's serves Pepsi products, not Coke!)



So just in case there was a long line though, we headed to the one on 2nd street where there never is. I know I've already mentioned these fries in my blog twice, but seriously these are amazing. Before we even got to the stand, we spotted a toddler in a stroller eating Thrasher's. But unfortunately I couldn't react quickly enough to get a cell phone picture! A few minutes later, we'd ordered a medium and were set. As I stood there about to take the fries a guy came up to grab more vinegar,yes, you must put vinegar on them! He said to me, "Oh yeah!" then asked, "Do you need vinegar?" When I told him I already put vinegar on there, he seemed skeptical. As if I would skip that part! By the way, Thrasher's only offers salt and vinegar as condiments, no ketchup. You simply can not destroy the taste of these peanut oil-fried deliciousness with ketchup. And don't even think about asking for it.



My mother and I finished a medium in ten minutes. And I'm not kidding. My dad checked his watch. I remember when I thought a small was plenty, but now I only get those tasty fries once a year.

Stylishly (& thoroughly stuffed) yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. The reason I didn't include a link, is Thrasher's doesn't even have a Website. They don't need it!