What to wear on casual Friday

My office wear is business casual but on Friday we can wear jeans.  Since I am on the short side, I have found that ankle-length is a good choice so I can wear flats and not worry about the legs being too long.  I wear a modern straight leg and I love a dark rinse.
Since denim is on the super casual side, I like to wear a cute top like this lace one and some cute accessories.  I am a scarf lover so I am especially excited fall is here.  I will be in scarves non-stop.

Casual Friday by eporter-217 featuring a black bedding

Fall Faves: Cute Cape Coats

Fall Faves: Cute Cape Coats by eporter-217 featuring a belted cape coat

Career Talk: Are you a leader or a manager?

By definition, a leader leads or commands a group, organization, or country.  Meanwhile, a manager is a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or similar organization.

If you have a team working under your supervision, this is one of the most common topics and can be a tricky role to figure out.  

Author Warren Bennis composed a list of the differences as this:

The manager administers; the leader innovates.

The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.

The manager maintains; the leader develops.

The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.

The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.

The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.

The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.

The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader’s eye is on the horizon.

The manager imitates; the leader originates.

The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.

The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.

The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.

Pretty inspiring huh, I agree.  Although I have been at the same employer for more than a decade, I am always working to sharpen my skills.  I do a lot of reading and training to lead my team at the level they deserve.  
Working at maximum efficiency isn't good enough.  It might work in the short term but until you invest your time in your team, they won't be around long.  What are your employee's personal goals?  Does their job today fit in with that?  How can you help them reach their goals?
            Figure that out and you have the recipe for success.  

When things are not going right, more times than not we have people problems.  Maybe it was a bad hire.  Maybe you hired for your need and not theirs.  Or, maybe they had great potential and you didn't invest enough time to develop it.  You might have gotten distracted because they seem to be "low maintenance" and don't ask for much help.  Trust me, they all need your time but when you only have eight hours a day, you have to choose who deserves your time. They may not "need it" as much as some others on your team but they deserve it based on how they fit in the team.  That is how you should choose to spend your time.  

Managers think about today. Leaders think about tomorrow.  
Are you thinking about next year?  You should be.  This year is almost over.  You either are on track to meet your goals or you're not and there's not much time to make major changes.  
Who do you want on your team?  Start there and build up.  That's the key to success.  When they are going the extra mile, are happy and are reaching their personal goals you are doin' it right.

See you at the top! :)      

Fall Decor Ideas

Fall is here.  I will miss my summer tan but I love the change of seasons.  Boots, scarves and chunky knit sweaters, I love them all.
My husband doesn't like a lot of stuff "stored" around the house so I try to keep boxes of extra accessories to a minimum.  I go all out for Christmas every year but this year I am thinking of adding a season and doing some fall decorating.  Since I am a rookie for this season, I looked online for some inspiration and Pottery Barn always has beautiful looks for each holiday.  Here are some of my favorite fall looks.

Any advice for a rookie fall decorator?  Send it my way.

Polished Prep with Riding Boots

Polished Prep with Riding Boots by eporter-217 featuring stainless steel jewelry

Veggie Salsa Recipe

Delish! Delish! Delish!  One of my favorite (and easiest to prepare) recipes for a large group of people.  This recipe is borrowed from my friend Tiffany, who first shared it with me a couple years ago.

It is actually called Black Bean Salsa but I don't like black beans so I call it Veggie Salsa.  

The secret to this dish is it is mostly canned.  Eek! Yes, canned, but that is a good thing.  It's a low maintenance dish.  You can prepare on the go like a weekend at the lake or even tailgating without needing to use space in the cooler to keep the ingredients cool before you make it.  

Note: this will last several days if kept refrigerated.  

Here is the super easy, tasty recipe:

1 can white shoepeg corn, drained

1 can Rotel brand diced tomatoes, drained

1 can regular diced tomoates, drained

I small can of chiles, drained - add as much as you'd like

1 small can of diced jalepenos, drained - add as much as you'd like

1 8 oz bottle of Italian dressing 

Fresh stuff:

1 green bell pepper, diced

A few green onions, diced

Dice and mix and add the dressing.  Let marinade for about 30 minutes.

Serve with scoops style tortilla chips.  What other ingredients would you add to this recipe?

Business Casual Interview Outfits Under $100

My office dress code is business casual.  We are not a suit and tie kinda company but we are a dress nice-enough-to-meet-a-customer and comfy enough so your wardrobe isn't a distraction kinda company.
I do a lot of interviewing with potential candidates.  When we post a job opening, it is not uncommon to receive 50-100 applicants.  Your first impression is your resume.  Employers have no way to judge you except your resume.  (read my interview tips)
If you make it through that, your next test is the in-person interview.  The reality is, we are judged from how we act, what we say and how we dress.  Knowing that you even made it to an interview is a victory in itself.  There is something in your credentials that says you could be hired for this job. Don't miss your opportunity by missing the mark with your appearance.  
An interview is not the time to wear your new platform heels.  Leave 'em at home.  Jeans? No way! Do the best with what you have and borrow from a friend if necessary.  Starch and ironing can go a long way to make some inexpensive slacks look more high end.

I found some great options, less than $100 that I think would be good looks for office-casual environments.  I love the dress shown.  Polished and approachable, the perfect look.  Like the pictures show, I would lean towards a closed-toe heel or a peep-toe for interviews and daily office wear. Pair the dress with some simple earrings from your jewelry box and a neutral bag and you are sure to make a great first impression.
My other three combinations are blouses with skirts.  Skirts and slacks are worth a good investment, you'll get years of wear from them.  Tops I tend to spend a little less on so I can buy for each season and trend without draining my bank account.
These tops shown are perfectly polished, giving a sweet feminine look without the need to reveal much skin.  Tops and blouses from LOFT average $40-$60 and they often have sales so you can save as you spend.
My jewelry showing wasn't in my $100 budget but they were too cute not to post.

A few more tips for making a great first impression:

• Clean and polish your shoes and remove scuff marks as much as possible  
• Carry a neutral, clean handbag and place it on the floor, not on the top of the desk
• Keep jewelry simple and nails polished
• Pantyhose are only necessary for executive positions, unless otherwise stated.  Business casual is okay with tights or bare skin.
• When in doubt, add a blazer.  A blazer will always take your outfit up a notch.  A good fitting blazer is key.  Worry about fit, not brand. 

Good luck! You can do it!

Business Casual Interview Outfits Under $100 by eporter-217 featuring a long knit skirt