The Holiday Humbug: Asshole Guys in New York

I had to share this story with our followers.  Sometimes it is not ok to be thrifty regardless of your current income level.  That is when you're a guy on a date with a girl, you've had a few drinks together, and the bill arrives. At this moment there is only one thing for the guy to do: pay up.

It is not only rude and insulting not to pay, but it wreaks of unsophistication, selfishness, stupidity, poor manners, cheapness, and no class.

The ultimate low occurred to my friend last night.  She was on a FIRST DATE with a young lad, let's call him ... Daniel! Well Daniel thought it would be cool to checkout the hip new joint Edi & The Wolf in the East Village.  Lucky for my friend and Daniel, they ordered a $4 bottle of wine from the menu thinking what a bargain, it turns out it was mislabeled and it was actually a $41 bottle, and The Charming Bartender shared a laugh with them and apologized by upping it and giving them a $60 bottle of wine for just $4!  It seemed like a charmed night until the bill came. Can you guess what Daniel did then?  He asked my friend for $2!!!!!!!

Unbelievable.  Only in New York.

interesting and unique ways to get fired...by Newl

I just got note that my unemployment is running out...not out totally, but you know, i just moved to tier 2... and guess what that means. I only got 6 months left on this baby. ( in tier 2 at least) In order to get more government assistance I either need to get pregnant and have a baby in the next 6 months OR get a job and forgo govt assistance.  And, I guess the whole  procreating in 6 months so I can be on welfare and have a premature baby doesnt really sound like the "responsible" option.


So in memorium of my half year unemployment anniversary (its gone by faar too quickly!)  I will recount how I got fired/ let go ( it was actually because I didn't brush my hair-- this conversation was had months earlier. But not brushing my hair was the cited reason i was fired.) NOTE: This convo is a real G-chat at work conversation.

4:45 PM me: i feel like my boss is going to fire me because i have messy hair today*

4:47 PM Jeffy: I have a brush you can borrow, in the future

 me: hahaha

 Jeffy: one I don't use and you could even call your own :)

 me: i think brushing your hair makes it messier.

4:48 PM whatever i dont think bad hair day discrimination is fair

 Jeffy: no, it certainly isn't, especially when the face underneath is so pleasant

4:49 PM like a bird's nest perched in a gorgeous oak tree

 me: bird nest

4:50 PM Jeffy: boyd's nest

4:52 PM me: my eyes are so closed she [my boss] might think i am on drugs

4:54 PM Jeffy: you're livin well, it's important to show it :P

4:56 PM me: she [my boss] got mad at me because i dont like to file.

  its true. i dont.

4:57 PM Jeffy: oh good lord, who does?!

 me: i guess i just need to find a better place to hide it [all of the built up stuff I never filed, which i just left on my desk in folder conspicuously labled: TO FILE]
!

 Jeffy: you need an assistant to do it for you

4:58 PM me: she [my boss] is like "why dont you do it right away???!?! it looks so messy! you are not organized!"

  um, i am like "well, have i gotten the correct document to you every single time you asked for it?"

5:00 PM Jeffy: haha, well that's the key ain't it?

5:02 PM me: and also i guess i told her and someone else also told her that i just like to wait until i have a pile and then i do it all at once

  this is much more efficient

  and it IS more efficient.

5:06 PM Jeffy: you think you could win a filing efficiency contest with your method?

  I'd like to see a filing showdown

Holiday Heffer? Not Readers of this Blog!

Hi! We're just checking in to see how your holiday health is... It's halfway through the holiday chowfest and the two of us feel kind of fat (for us that's not REALLY fat, but it's not our optimal tone and definition). Anyway, since working out is essential for heart and bone health, with slim physique a mere side benefit, we thought we'd share our weekly strategies for staying fit through the winter wonderland of food. What are YOU doing to stay in shape?



PotatoSackPrincess week 1 Plan:

Monday: 10 minutes cardio and then arms circuit at the gym.
Tuesday: 8pm yoga
Wednesday: 10 minutes cardo, then legs circuit.
Thursday: 8pm yoga

Every morning: 30 minutes walk/run with my dog.

Every midday: green tea and water with lemon.

Friday: rest and enjoy the extra energy and healthy glow!

Drama-ina Ballerina

The reviews are in . . . the tickets are bought . . . seeing Black Swan tomorrow! The New York Times says it's AMAZING!!

On Souffre Pour Trouver du Travail

The government reported that 290,000 jobs were added last month. This is wonderful news. It adds to my sense of springtime glee. Though I'm not permanently employed myself, I'm happy someone is and also happy because I found some high-paying contract work with interesting people and nice perks. It's a step in the right direction!

Still, I'm going to keep my spending in check and amp up my discount shopping. Case in point: today I'm going to buy some beauty products but only the ones that are on sale! Just this morning my aunt said, "Miss Potato Sack, why do you wear that gloppy sunscreen instead of nice moisturizer?" I couldn't bare to tell her that my fave moisturizer's pricey . . . I'm waiting for it to go on sale!

So, here are the coupons I found for my fave beauty products today:

$5 off $30 orders, plus free shipping.

This one looks too good to be true, but it never hurts to try!


Now on to applying to at least 20 jobs . . . holla!!!

Bon chance pour trouver un emploi!
xoxoxoxoxo

CHAMPAGNE & SHOPPING . . . FREE!

What could be better than free champagne on a Friday afternoon? Free shopping as well! That's right - you can have new jewelry for the price of $0. Just bring your old duds into Dalaga in Greenpoint on Friday, and a local (and AWESOME!) jewelry designer will transform them into new studs!
Creativity, fun, & a new look all in one. I can't wait for this!!
p.s. You might want to buy a dress too, since Dalaga won "Best Dresses" award in NYMAG's "BEST OF 2010" issue!

Friday April 9th, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
150 Franklin St., nr. Greenpoint Ave.
Brooklyn

Recession dinner...

there are REally less options for dinner when you arent living large. SO:why dont you cook something. or better yet, go over to a friends house who cooks. Now this may take a little more planning but- sometimes.....its good to become friends with people with some sort of actual domestic life skills.

Also a good friend to have is someone who always has good snacks. .... just sayin'.

Speaking for myself, and only myself, I have very little patience... and I am generally only feeding myself, so I generally try to use the least amount of ingredients possible.

It has led me to some FABULOUS low calorie recipies:
broccoli
bok choi
asparagus
brussel sprouts
i just microwave for a minute to a minute and a half ( or better yet press the "vegetable button" on the microwave), and squeeze lemon juice.  Add a dash of salt and pepper, or for a more interesting effect low sodium soy sauce and you have yourself a MEAL.

FREE music downloads? yes!

if you like up and coming bands on independent labels you should obvi check out Rcrdlbl

its a great site where you can download FREE music. and music should like so be FREE anyways, because putting a price on music is similar to putting a price on LOVE.

also if you google bands they will put you to myspace music and then give you a tiny little pop out player where you can listen to music. which is SO much better than those stupid like 30 seconds that itunes gives you. i want the WHOLE song. hallow!

Lovely Day is now open. also There are a lot of sales going on NOWW...

Lovely Day, aka the beatrice of restaurants is now open. Please go there for cheap thai food. its also painfully cool . which helps you feel cool too.

another good thing about being Yob-less, you can really catch up on magazine reading.


In other news. lots of good sales going on. Uniqlo, the row sample sale.. nad hopefully that saks sale i love so muchhhhh. and by the way potatosack princess..... dont fret. there are lots of positive things about this situation, you just have to learn to enjoy them.

oxoxox

i am at KINKOS. FML.

kinkos SUUUUCKs. the laziest people work here. like even I could get a job here, but, I probably cant... its so competitive these days.

anyhow. EVERYONE here is working on work stuff. Everyone is printing resumes and what not. unemployed UNITE!

Now the question you should be asking is why the hell am I posting this when time is so expensive at kinkos-- it is 30Cents per minute of internet/ use of a computer to be exact. Well, its because i have a TIp!


save your money and bring your own laptop.... its MUCH cheaper. an hour for 6$. actually I cant do math but i figure i paid the freeking 6$, I am going to use it.

OMG it's SUNNY!

Go outside & get some Vitamin D!!!! It's FREE! Woo!

Run to Union Square NOW if you want $300 haircut for $0

No Job? Free haircuts!

10am to 5pm TODAY (Monday, November 9th) is FREE HAIRCUT day! Cristiano Cora Studio, a high-end "artistic hair atelier" near Union Square is offering free haircuts to UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE! CALL NOW for your appointment! Ph: 212.414.1333 or email Pia Vivas cristianocorastudio@gmail.com

(In the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm actually NOT going to this, because tv shows are FILMING for the news, and I'm kinda embarrassed to be seen at this event).

The salon is located at: 3 W 13th Street 2nd floor New York, NY 10011

A Golden Lining . . .

Or should I say "Tan"? Turns out the unemployed have a health benefit over office workers beyond the lack of stress . . . Those hours in the sun, walking to the grocery store, gym, or taking the dog for a stroll, give you something ESSENTIAL that is also FREE: Vitamin D! According to recent studies, increased intake of Vitamin D have been tied to lower incidence of cancer (i.e. 30% less chance of breast and prostate cancer!) and more also a decrease of both fatigue and muscle aches. The average American diet provides far fewer levels of Vitamin D than is currently recommended by the NIH and doctors. A natural source of Vitamin D is sunlight! So frolic in the sun my unemployed friends! You'll do better in those interviews, with all that increased energy, and you'll look better, too! But most importantly people, you will have good health. Na Zdoroviye!

More on vitamin D: Overview, Yogurt with Vitamin D, A Doctor's View

Folgers Isn't Good?

I have a friend visiting from California and she just informed me that Folger's isn't good coffee. I told her, "but there's gold on the label, and it's so cheap!" Ok, there you have it ..... it's so inexpensive! I love it! Not only am I saving money by having homemade coffee instead of Dunkin' or Starbucks, I'm saving A LOT of money! $3 for a pound of Folgers, versus $10 for a pound of Starbucks. So there are 52 weeks in the year: That's a savings of $364!!!! Holler at Folgers! I love you no matter what anyone says.

Get free stuff: Hitting the Party Circuit!

One of the BEST things about being "sans boulot" or a nouveau poor is the fact that you can go out and party! On the week nights. If you go to the good parties you can get a lot of decent favors.

My favorite favors thus far have been:
- a pomegranate lip balm
-face wash
-a free week at equinox
-free week at pure yoga
-a tote bag
-no offense, Whitney Studio Party, but the stupid Versace post cards I got at the event were worthless to me
-I also got a baseball cap
-some free tee shirts

all these things are good and fair, but when are they going to give the things I really need at these parties... 

such as:
-biore pore nose strips
-paying my phone bill
-free laptop computer
-and an infinite spa day.... I can use whenever,  multiple times.

Anyhow, I hope to become famous so that I will get better gifts at parties.

SOLUTION: Potatosack Princess, Actually, there IS such a thing as a Free Lunch....

For "ze" unemployed....lunch can be a free thing. But you need to know where to go. I recommend using what I like to call the Starbucks/ Dean and Deluca/ d'Espana/ Whole foods/Gourmet Garage sample circut.  I even have created an entire diet around samples, but it is for working people. Its called the Grand Central diet, and it is based around the samples that are found in the Grand Central Market Hall. I will cut and paste it here... Later on, when I dont have more pressing things to do like get ready to go out tonight. obvi.

At Starbucks you can get a venti hot water, this curbs hunger, or if you carry a tea bag around in your purse, you can transform it into tea. Voila!

At Dean and Deluca (Soho) you can get tiny slices of bread, generally different kinds.  They are in baskets.

At D'Espana, its like a sample heaven, they have tiny cubes of cheese, and also different kinds of dips and even a dessert and some meat ( for carnivores).  If you have read French Women Dont Get Fat ( and if you havent, it really should be in your reading list) you know that portion control is one of the keys to thinness. If you only eat these samples as your meals you will be thin in NO time at all!

Whole foods is okay with samples....sometimes there are beaucoup samples, sometimes RIEN!   I generally try to nibble from the salad bar, but I always pray that the whole foods police wont catch me, and then I may have to go to the whole foods prison. Or worse yet be banned from whole foods for life. Sidenote: I wonder if being in whole foods prison would affect my "character and fitness" component of my bar application. Um remind me why I decided to work/not work in an "ethical" profession?!!?


So, in conclusion, yes PP, there IS such a thing as a free lunch.

Sans Boulot --Mais Je Voudrais Achete Quelque Chose? BoN MArcHE! SoLDES! J'ADoRe!!AAgeheheh!!!!

its the Henri Bendel Friends and Family Sale Bitchezz. And you know how much Newl loves the Soldes. I probably cant afford anything, even with the discount. But this seems cool. For people with disposable income. xoxo.

Silver Lining

Restaurants and even "gourmet" grocery stores like Whole Foods are off limits these days, but on the bright side I've never eaten so little! Today the clock struck 5pm and I found that all I'd eaten was a slice of farmstand-bought whole wheat bread and a few grapes. Bad economy may mean cute little figure for this girl! (hoping this will lead to free dinners . . . ;-) ).

Nobody's Hiring, Everyone's Firing

You know the economy is bad when you search the job listings websites and the only available job you're qualified for is the friggin' Armed Services!!!! Oh and p.s., you have a law degree.