A girl’s gotta eat, right?  I usually call in my lunch order, pick it up, and take it back to my office.  Today is busy-busy, but I took the time out to dine-in at Pagoda Bistro, a newish Vietnamese restaurant down the street from the house.  I’m actually writing this at a table in Pagoda right now using their free WiFi.  Glad I decided to sit and stay.

The exterior of Pagoda - a renovated house - is bright yellow and belies the chic, smartly appointed interior.  You’ll find dark woods, yellow walls, and gorgeous shell chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  Enamel artwork hangs on the walls, glossy snapshots of Asian life.

Hurricane Ike blew off Pagoda’s roof, requiring them to close for about 5 weeks to renovate.  They had to gut the place and start again from scratch, but they’re back with a delicious vengeance. (more…)

A friend of mine wants to a mentor to help him transition into a consulting position.  There are a few people he has in mind, but he hasn’t approached them yet.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked him.

“I don’t know how to approach them about it,” he replied.

“Just ask. ‘Would you be willing to be my mentor?’ ”

He told me, “I knew you’d say that.”

Finding a mentor really is as easy as just asking.  Find someone who’s work and experience you admire - who’s successfully done what you want to do.  Tell them you admire their work and career and ask if they would be willing to mentor you.  Really, it is that easy - it’s a 2 sentence request.

Here are two ways you can find mentors to help guide you:

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With friends’ parties and office parties (however scaled back this year) on your calendar, this is the perfect time to take inventory of your networking toolbox. Successful navigation of a holiday party means not only avoiding the tipsy coworker at the copy machine but also discovering what you have in common with the other people in the room.  And when you find that something in common, you should stay in touch.  So how do you do that?

Exchange cards.

What?  You don’t have a card?

Don’t be the person scribbling your contact info on the back of a cocktail napkin.  We’ve all been guilty of it from time to time, but it does come across as sloppy and unprepared - never a good look.  Didn’t you know you’d be attending this event and meeting folks?  Of course you did.  Come prepared.

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Gown for inaugural galas and parties?  Check!

Killer shoes and clutch?  Check and check!

Obama ‘08 campaign button?  Hmm.  That might be a little too casual, don’t you think?

Instead of that campaign button, you might want to consider these jeweled pins: (more…)

Need it there by Christmas?  Orders placed by Friday, December 12 @ 6 PM EST are guaranteed to ship by Friday, December 19. We strongly suggest that you select FedEx 2Day shipping at checkout.

Hi, Society! Design Studio gift certificates are available at all times and are delivered to recipients immediately via email.  They’re perfect for last-minute gifts or for folks who like to pick their own gifts.  (You know the ones - they always ask you for the gift receipt!)