Checklists to Prepare for Hurricane Irene

/2 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , /by

I’ve been making checklists since I heard that Hurricane Irene was going to hit New York City. Supplies lists, grocery shopping lists, emergency contact lists (because who can remember anyone’s phone number these days!), etc.

I usually don’t panic for storms and blizzards because working in the news business has conditioned me to handle tough situations.

It’s much different being in an apartment than in a house during a hurricane. This is my first experience in an apartment. Jay is working Saturday night — because the news business doesn’t stop in emergency situations. You can listen to his sports updates on 1010WINS if you happen to be listening to the radio. But once he’s home on Sunday we’ll have plenty of snacks, water, non-perishable foods, candles, batteries and wine — all thanks to my planning and list making. Read more

Simple Solution for Gift Giving

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , /by

Today Jay and I are loading up the car and heading upstate for our friend’s wedding. It’s going to be at a gorgeous place called Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. Ok – so it’s not really upstate but if you live in NYC everything north of Westchester is upstate. It’s going to be a gorgeous and relaxing get away and we’ll get to celebrate with some of our dearest friends.

This weekend is also my best friend Danielle’s 30th birthday. So between this wedding and Danielle’s milestone – I have gifts on the brain. You know me – I’ve already had their gifts covered for weeks. Another reason why you should start your holiday shopping immediately – you won’t stress when the time comes! Read more

Outsource Your To-Do List

/5 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , /by

I’ve been raving about the movie “Limitless” since Jay and I saw it in the theaters. If you haven’t seen it – you need to! Not only because Bradley Cooper is easy on the eyes but also because it’s a highly-entertaining thriller. It’s also set in New York City and I love movies where I can point out my favorite streets. I guarantee by the end of the movie you’ll want the drug they’re pushing called NZT.

NZT allows you to access 100% of your brain instead of just 20%. It’s like being your best possible self but then times that by 100. Bradley Cooper’s character Eddie learns languages in a fraction of the time and recalls memories and information in a flash. He’s able to write a novel in just days and quickly becomes rich by learning the ins and outs of trading stocks.

Talk about crossing off everything on your to-do list! Wouldn’t it be nice to whiz through all the things you need and want to do? Well you actually can – even without NZT.

It’s called TaskRabbit.com. It’s a new service launching in New York City today where you can pay someone to do the things you’re too busy to do! Isn’t that just perfect for New Yorkers?! You can save time, money and be less stressed. For a small fee you can ask a TaskRabbit to do just about anything like:

  • Put together Ikea furniture (isn’t that the worst task ever!)
  • Pick up groceries
  • Research a trip (my personal favorite – you know how I love research)
  • Stake out a picnic spot in Brooklyn
  • Visit a family member at the hospital Read more

Does Your Resume Stink? Here’s a Checklist

/2 Comments/in , , /by

It always amazes me how many people don’t know how to write a good resume. In TV it’s kind of easy because our video reel speaks for us. Sometimes what you write on a resume doesn’t even matter. But I digress — a strong resume is your first impression to get your foot in the door. If it falls flat so will your career. Know when to be creative and clever and when that will get your resume thrown out. Writing a good resume will lead you to potentially reaching the net stage of the job application process. Being invited to an interview. You need to get your resume sorted first, but it doesn’t harm you to look into a site like https://www.berkeassessment.com/solutions if you are thinking of working on your interview skills too. At least this way, you know you’ll be fully prepared.

I’m lucky to have a great friend who is a human resources recruiter and a plethora of information. Brian Boden recently launched a business dedicated to telling you that “Your Resume Stinks.” He’ll fix it up for you and get you that job you’ve always wanted.

In the past, I’ve used free resumes from websites such as Copy My Resume (https://copymyresume.com/), and these do work extremely well – but you’ll still need to put a unique touch to them.

Here’s his checklist for dos and don’ts of resume writing:

1. Answer the questions before they’re asked

Make sure your resume tells a story. A story about YOU! If the person reading the resume has to wonder if you obtained a degree, they are going to move on to the next candidate. Under Education make sure you list the college/university, major/minor, degree type, and year awarded. Major academic accomplishments, grade point averages, and other education-related information can be included in your cover letter if pertinent to the specific job. Read more

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Wine Collecting List

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , , /by

I’ve said it before — I only drink water, tea and wine. I still haven’t thrown my wine tasting party but I plan on doing it in the fall when all the summer craziness dies down. Jay and I belong to a wine club, which helps us out when we want to try something new.

Speaking of wine — I’ve had Gary Vaynerchuck guest post before — he’s a wacky wine guru and social media ninja.  If you want to know anything about either of those topics — Gary is your man. I have to confess that Pinot Grigio is still my go-to wine. I know, I know — Gary is going to yell at me again. But what can I say — I’m a creature of habit!

I’ve never thought about collecting wine as a hobby simply because I drink it too quickly to collect it. But it sounds cool enough. Here’s Gary’s list for collecting vintage wines.

  • Wine collecting is one of the most profitable ways to invest. If you buy at the right time, there’s some serious return if you hold on to some of the most highly collectible wines out there.
  • If you’re keeping wine for the long term, it’s absolutely imperative to keep the wines in a cellar environment (55 degrees Fahrenheit and 75% humidity). When you’re reselling wine, the location where it was stored makes or breaks the value.
  • What makes a wine collectible? Pedigree of winery/vineyards, score, and vintage.
  • If you’re cellaring for yourself instead of pure investment, know what you like! It’s the most crucial point to enjoying wine, just like food. Don’t be ashamed if you like sweeter wines or only like whites. There are a ton of great and age worthy wines in other categories than reds.
  • It’s always a good idea to include ‘cellar defenders’, that is nice wines that can be drunk on the shorter term and will also save some of the most prized bottles in your collection if you have guests over. No need to open up that bottle of ’82 Lafite when you can have a drink now Bordeaux!

Gary Vaynerchuk is the New York Times bestselling author of “Thank You Economy” and “Crush It.” He’s also the founder of DailyGrape.com where he tastes several wines a day and tells you exactly what he thinks! He also recently launched a DailyGrape app.