Jean therapy

Your favourite pair of jeans – the ones that made your bum look absolutely fabulous and fit perfectly in just the right spots – decided to fail you in life by ripping in the most awkward area. Not a ‘I’m so cool because I’m a hipster and don’t care if there’s a hole in my jeans’ kind of hole but the kind that makes them unwearable. Seriously, the jeans that you have depended on for the last few years have finally let you down. Now you have to spend the next month or so trying to find another pair that are equally as amazing so you can make them your go-to item of clothing. So you shop around and you quickly get frustrated because jeans are a staple in your wardrobe and you feel the need to fill the void. You keep trying on pairs but nothing fits quite right – some are too saggy around the bum, pulling around the thighs or just a few inches too short for you (I mean if you can’t wear heels with your jeans, then what’s the point?).

You finally end up taking home the first pair of jeans that kind of look okay and are on sale because, really, you need a pair of jeans in life. You start wearing the pair to break them in and immediately regret your decision. They just don’t quite fit right. I mean they do the job, I suppose, of what pants are suppose to do – keep you warm and make look good. But still, there’s something off about them. You wear them for a little awhile until you realize it’s just not working for you. Then you remember you didn’t actually throw your favourite pair of jeans away. You kept them in your closet...just in case. You take them out, put them on and remember all the good times you had in them. Suddenly, you see your old pair of jeans in a whole new light because in comparison, it seems to be the better choice. But can you really pull off wearing them again? Will your friends judge you for wearing a holey, torn pair of jeans. I mean, if you stitch it up just right then maybe, just maybe, you can make it work. Or should give these new pair of jeans a fair chance. Maybe if you wear them just a little longer, they'll begin to stretch out a bit and fit to the contours of your body like the other pair that you got so used to did.

Relationships are like a pair of jeans in that way. Good ones are hard to find. You can try hundreds of pairs and even then you often settle. But if you do find the perfect pair, give them a little TLC. Read the cleaning care/laundry labels and handle with care because when it's right, do your best to keep 'em intact.

By the way, random analogies - it's a thing. ^L

Stretch in your Step

"Oh, they're just so comfy"
"I can do anything in them"
"It makes me feel like I'm not wearing anything"

Seriously girls, we've heard it all. Leggings are NOT a substitute for pants. No one (that's right, no one), not even your mother or significant other wants to see you in something that looks like another layer of skin that you've developed. Leggings are comfy, I'll admit it, but they're meant for super long tops or dresses - it doesn't matter how fit you are or how trendy you think you look.

And if you really really just can't give up the idea of having skin tight bottoms with an inappropriate top - well, then buy a pair of skinny jeans (NOT legging jeans or jeggings as they're affectionately referred to). A jean means there are at least 4 pockets (normal = 5 pockets, but we can let it slide) - and there's stretch in them too. But you know the main difference? They're actually meant to be pants! Who would've thought?

Moral of the story? Leggings as pants? Definitely not a thing (ps. it never was a thing to begin with). ^K

You call that a raise?

It's here. The day you've been dreading and highly anticipating at the same time: your financial review.

You're pumped because you believe that you will finally be recognized and rewarded for all of the long hours and terrific work you've done. You let your imagination go a bit wild - the thought of new brakes for your car, that all inclusive vacation and winter boots that don't leak - all seem within reach.

But then it happens. Your nightmare - your raise is minimal and well below the industry average for your position. You've had enough. You vowed to yourself that you wouldn't cave and that it's finally time to stand up for yourself. So what do you do? You negotiate. It's funny how university was supposed to prepare students for their career lives ahead. But when did they ever teach how to negotiate?

People in the early to mid twenties are the worst at this because they don't know what they're worth. You may not be married with two kids, a minivan or have a mortgage, but this doesn't mean you don't deserve to make less. If you don't feel respected through your compensation, it's time to move on and find a company that will. Giving yourself the respect you deserve is a thing. Staying at an underpaid job for too long because you're afraid to ask for more - not a thing  ^B

Single by the numbers

When talking to my single friends, we have the same question: why is it so hard to find a normal guy? And we're not even talking about finding a boyfriend – just a decent looking guy who isn’t a complete dumbass. (Because here’s a secret boys, that’s all we want, plus the ability to start and hold a normal, non-awkward conversation). Most guys would say we're being picky but I know the real reason why it's so damn hard.

Similar to the math done in 'How I Met Your Mother', let’s take a sample pool of a hundred guys in Vancouver. We’ll say half of them are too old or too young, so we’re left with 50 guys. Of the 50 guys, I’d say half of the guys are in relationships...so we’re down to 25. Of these 25 guys, 10 are gay, now there are 15 eligible men to choose from. But wait, of these so-called eligible men, 14 of them are either too short, huge douchebags and/or tools, guys that we’re just not attracted to or all of the above. Moral of the story is that we’re left with ONE guy and there are 10 other single girls in Vancouver fighting for him. Single by the numbers, it’s a thing. But I have no idea how to fix this so if you have a solution that doesn’t involve importing men from Fort Mac (where the ratio is about 50 guys to 1 girl), please do share. ^L