Donna

Let me make myself clear: I hate McDonald’s burgers. Big Mac, big crap!  In fact, before, July 18, 2009, I hadn’t had a McDonald’s burger in at least 7 years.  However, while driving to New York on July 18, 2009, I was forced to stop at a McDonald’s to eat.  “Forced”? Yes.  How can you control the “McDonald’s! McDonald’s! McDonald’s! screaming of 3 little brats after spotting the famous gold arches?

While the kids were happily awaiting their “Happy Meals,” I was in pain looking at the McDonald’s menu.  Then, my eyes caught a fire when I saw the photo of the new Angus Burger.  Oh, it looked so delicious.  But, we all know that McDonald’s burgers only look delicious, because honestly, it never really tastes’ as good as it looks.  But, I was hungry and this was a “new” burger.  So, I gave it a chance. 

I tried the Angus Burger.  And cupid hit me.  I’m in love.

The Angus Burger is delicious, juicy and tasty.  OMG, this is the best hamburger I’ve ever tried in a long, long time.  Seriously!

The Angus Third Pounders are the first new burgers the company has launched since the Big ‘N Tasty in 2001, this after two years of test marketing.  The one-third pound burger is made of a higher grade of beef than McDonald’s other burgers and is the fast-food chain’s most expensive U.S. sandwich, selling for about $4.  There are three different varieties available: Deluxe, Bacon & Cheese and Mushroom Swiss.  Surprisingly, McDonald’s introduced four totally new ingredients to the menu with the launch of this burger: bacon, swiss cheese, red onion and sautéed mushrooms (while other fast food chains got swept up in the bacon craze, McDonald’s never introduced a bacon burger).

So, if you have a McDonald’s close to you, give it a try over lunch.  You will not regret it.  And, just in case you were wondering, the third-pound Angus with Bacon and Cheese packs 820 calories, 43g of fat, and 65g of carbohydrates. Combined with a large package of French Fries (570 calories) and a large Coke (310 calories), this delectable Angus Bacon and Cheese lunch provides you with 1,700 delicious calories in one meal.

I know, it is deliciously fattening.  But, bring me the calories, baby;  I’m lovin’ it!

Jenny

With summer around the corner, I decided it was time to take stock of my winter body.  This is my dilemma every summer.  I look in the mirror and realize that I will have to do some work to get into some of last summer’s clothes.  For those of us chained to our desks at the office, it is difficult to work any semblance of exercise into our day.  The other day, while surfing, I came across an article for the blog The Office-Diet.  From the Office-Diet post, I discovered Joan Price’s “25 Ways to Exercise When you Barely Have a Minute.“  I found some of her suggestions to be sensible and doable exercises for the desk bound.  With these simple exercises, you can mix them up and do several different ones each day. 

Here are my top 5 favorites:

1. Don’t Drive All the Way to Work:  Drive your car to a location where you can safely leave it.  This location should be about a mile or two away from your job.  Then from this location walk the rest of the way into work, and of course, you will be walking back to the car after work as well.
   
   
2. Stand and Work:  It has been suggested that if you stand up as much as possible while you work or study you will feel less tired and your brain will work better.  Working standing up for approximately 5 -10 minutes every hour could translate into you burning 25% more calories.  Wow!! What a great way to burn off some calories while on the job.
   
   
3. Burn Em, Don’t Eat Em: Skip the pastries at lunch, and go outside. Take a walk around the block as briskly as possible.  This exercise will energize you both mentally and physically. At a 4 mph pace you could burn 100 calories in 15 minutes.
   
   
4. Skip a Step:  Instead of taking the elevator up to your office, take the stairs. Add intensity to this exercise by taking the stairs two at a time.
   
   
5. Ab Alert: Work on your abs by doing isometric abdominal intervals where ever you stand or sit. Contract your abs six times slowly, (6-second rep), then six times quickly (2-second rep), then six times super slowly (10-second rep), and repeat.
   

There are twenty other exercise suggestions from Ms. Price that you might find fun and interesting, read all about it by clicking on this link. 

So ladies, what are you waiting for, let’s get moving and get in shape for the summer.

Jenny

Lately, I have noticed that I am not as enthusiastic about going into work.  Now, don’t misunderstand me, I love my job.  It is just that recently, I am not so excited about work.  This attitude has me wondering, why am I so ambivalent about work?  Well, I have come to the realization that it probably is a combination of things:

1. I am probably just a bit tired of the daily routine and grind.  Sometimes you get stuck in a rut.  So, I am going to have to be creative and figure out a way to add some variety to my routine.  Spice it up a bit.
   
   
2. I probably need a vacation. I love to travel, and I get a bit stir crazy if at some point I don’t hop on a plane and go some where.  A quick trip could be the fix that I need.  Likely, a weekend getaway will help me to snap out of my rut.
   
   
3. I could also just be physically and mentally tired.  I have noticed that when my body is a bit off, I tend to be lethargic and not my usual upbeat self.  So my plan is to take it down a notch on the weekends.  Instead of filling my weekends with lots of activity, I will plan on going to a spa for a massage. This should take care of the kinks and tension in the body and help to relax my mind.

So have you experienced moments like these? How do you cope when it happens?

Jenny

In these tough economic times, we are all trying to find ways to save a few extra dollars.  One way that I have discovered as a sure way to save about $5.00 to $8.00 a day is by brown-bagging lunch.  Think about it ladies, a sandwich costs approximately $6.50 and a soda about $2.00. That means that you are probably spending on average $8.50 per day on lunch.  Let’s take that to a per week calculation, that will be about $42.50 just on lunch each week, which brings us to an approximately $170.00 per month lunch bill. 

Now let us examine how much money will be saved if you chose to brown bag.  Using sandwiches as an example, if you buy a whole loaf of bread at $3.50, a pound of ham at $7.50, a pound of smoked turkey at $8.49, and a pound of white american cheese at $6.00, you would have spent approximately $26.00.  Now from this assortment, you will be able to make lunch for the entire week for a savings that is about half the amount you would have spent if you ate out at the local deli.  Ladies, dare I say that the savings are in the bag.  Now, I hope many of you are thinking, wow, I could certainly use some of the money that I would save to pay another bill, or I could put those saved dollars into an interest bearing account to be used for a rainy day.

Let us look at this from another angle, in addition to saving yourself a chunk of money, you are also making a smart and healthy choice.  Think about it, since you are now going to be your own meal planner, you will not be eating lunches that are loaded with hundreds of calories and cholesterol.  Instead, you are going to be more conscious about the ingredients you use and the portions you pack for yourself.  With one fell swoop, you have now bagged a healthy lunch diet as part of your daily routine.

So ladies, your challenge is to give these alternatives a try.  Why not?  What have you got to lose? Absolutely nothing but a few inches around the waist, while gaining a few more dollars in the bank!

Donna

Sadly, secretaries do get laid off too.  The economy is really bad and it is not cool to be laid off at this time.  But, if you are laid off, complaining or doing nothing about it will not help.  So, what can you do if you have been laid off?  Here are my recommendations:
 
1.  It is okay to be upset.  GS Rule #1: A true GS feels free to vent and blow of steam- in a civilized manner.  Anger, sadness, shock, and depression, are all symptoms associated with a lay off.  This is when a Secretary Screwed Up drink comes in handy. 
 
2.  Be happy.  GS Rule #2: A true GS doesn’t hold any grudges.  It does not matter that you think the lay off was unfair.  Even if it was unfair, you should not spend your time holding any grudges.  Remember that your former colleagues may help you find your next job. So, let’s move on.  Be happy.
 
3.  Do what you have to do.  GS Rule #3: A true GS makes lemonade when life gives her lemons.  So, after a lay off you must move quickly.  Apply for unemployment, review your finances, consider cutting discretionary expenses, and, yes, manicures and pedicures are discretionary expenses.  If necessary, contact a credit counseling firm, such as the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, www.aiccca.org, to help negotiate payment plans.
 
4. Do not be afraid. GS Rule #5 (yes, this is GS rule #5 not 4): A true GS is not afraid of change, to the contrary, she embraces it.  Understand that sooner or later you will find a job. It is not a matter of “if”, but of “when.”  Do not hide yourself, ask everyone you know about possible job opportunities, apply for jobs, and use your online social networks to let people know that you are looking for a job.  In the meantime, try to earn extra income by advertising your services as a freelance or a virtual assistant. 
 
5. Enjoy your time off.  GS Rule #6: A true GS takes time off to do absolutely nothing.  Like Madonna says, always “take a Holiday, take some time to celebrate.”  Again, I know this might be hard if you are worrying about paying your bills and finding a job.  We understand the “involuntary” part of this situation.  However, you should not let the circumstances overshadow the fact that you have time off. Enjoy it.  Even if it is involuntary.  Wake up late, go to bed late, read a good book, watch TV, or use this time to do those things that you’ve wanted to do but never had the time to do.  Or, even better, relax and do nothing.  This is your time off.  Whatever you do, please enjoy it.  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
 
For a complete list of the “Sweet 16: The 16 Non-Negotiable Rules of a true Gossip Secretary”, click here.