Perks of Working at a Magazine

I met the Creative Director of Coach, Reed Krakoff, who was in town to promote the new spring/summer line, as well as talk about the flagship opening this summer in Hong Kong. Most press events have gifts from the company at the end, but they normally aren’t that great. This time I was expecting a lil coin purse or a keychain, so imagine my surprise when I received a pair of black Marilyn (name of the style – can’t find a pic) sunglasses! They actually look good on me, as well. Score!

The day before that I went to a press luncheon for a makeup brand from Australia, called Becca. After the lunch they handed out bags with a lipgloss (in a colour I would never use) and a cheek tint thing (also which I wouldn’t really use), so I was like “Psh, lame – especially since they kept going on about how famous they are for their foundations.”

Later I looked in the bag and went through the leaflets and things, and found an envelope containing a coupon for HK$3500 worth of makeup at the counter!!! (Roughly US$430) I went today to go pick out what I wanted. I took my mom with me since I never even spend that much money in like 5 years on makeup, much less all in one go. haha We ended up getting (links on the product names):

Mineral SPF Primer – the one thing I knew I definitely wanted, since I’m a huge fan of mineral makeup!

The Ultimate Mascara
(Got 3 of them: one for me, one for my mom, and one cause we didn’t know what else to get at the end!)

Brow Powder in Ash, and Angled Brush #9

Sateen Palette (pour moi!)

Velveteen Palette (pour ma mere, cause I already have all those colours pretty much!)

They didn’t have the primer or the angled brush in stock, but said they’d hold one for me once they came in. Yay! I didn’t get foundation since I already use the Bare Escentuals foundation, plus my friend found the makeup bag I thought I’d lost under her bed in NYC which has my Bobbi Brown foundation in it, so I don’t really need any more right now!

My colleague does a beauty product shoot every issue, and for the March issue she decided to feature blue nail polish, so polish has been arriving at the office nearly every day this week, including Chanel’s latest hot colour, Blue Satin (left). So of course we painted our nails this week (well, if we’re gonna get technical, I painted our nails!) and they look HOT! Next one we’re gonna try is the OPI blue from their latest India collection, which is launching end of the month. (Can’t find the name online since it isn’t out for retail yet, but will update when I find out tomorrow at the office!)

So, while I complain about writing boring advertorials, or having to chase after interviews with people, or write wedding-related crap (especially the groom section – although March’s was pretty fun since it was advice on how to pick the perfect engagement ring for your gf! – but previous topics included what shoes to wear, and what to wear to daytime weddings – gag), the perks of it keep me going. (Plus that paycheck every month!!)

What do you love about your job? (If anything! Or, tell me what you hate about your job, or what you would like to do instead of what you’re doing now…go on, tell me something about your job/aspiring job/career goals!)

First Day of Work//Another Interview!

I went to my new company’s Christmas party last night. It was fun, even though at the beginning when we were waiting around for our ride I just wanted to melt into a puddle and/or die, because I was feeling so uncomfortable. There’s only one other native English speaker in the office, and she was out sick, and all the other girls assumed I only spoke English so I guess they were slightly intimidated since their English is about as good as my Cantonese (read: not good!), and I obviously was both the new girl and “the one that doesn’t speak Chinese”, at least at first.

Once we got ’round to setting up the names and bowling and stuff though I started chatting to a few chicas, and I quite like two of them in particular, Ella and Joy. I sat with them at dinner as well and was actually managing to carry on a conversation in Cantonese, and I was glad I had a chance to use it.

This morning my alarm went off at 8.10, and I instantly snoozed it, but my room line rang a few minutes later and I knew it had to be Colin. He was calling to wake me and to wish me luck on my first day – so sweet! He said he was just sitting around the office till 7pm so he could call me at the right time See why I love him? Thanks to him, my day started off quite well!

I was seriously sleepy in the morning, yawning like 10 times in 15 minutes. haha I had lunch with my co-workers outdoors on the podium, and it was a gorgeous sunny day, and I was actually getting hot!

Work-wise, I already have 4 assignments, so I’m getting on with that…

The most ironic thing to happen today is that another magazine called me this afternoon for an interview this week, and it’s a mag that I actually kinda want to work for! (Whereas this one I didn’t really care that much about…) The position would be the same title as at my last job, and doing pretty much the same thing. And, this magazine is international, so I think it would help to have it on my resume if I were ever to move to New York, just to have the name there. Plus, according to my makeup artist girlfriend, they pay pretty well, probably better than what I’m getting now!

The only thing is I’m gonna have to either leave work early or get in later on this week to be able to do it, and I have no idea what lie I’m gonna come up with, especially since I’m only essentially working a week this month! (Booked time off already between Christmas and New Year’s.) Argh.

Anyway…I really want this (I think) so wish me luck!!!