ALL WORK AND NO PLAY- the Devil Wears Prada

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY…. The Devil wears Prada.

We say that love is the most important thing to us, but how often do we let work get in the way of it? Of course, our livelihoods are important, otherwise how would we eat or buy Prada shoes but love is important as well. Afterall, what’s the use of all that money if you have no one to share it with, right?

I saw the Devil wears Prada this weekend. Great fashion movie- loved the Balenciaga dress, the hot Chanel thigh high boots, and the Patricia Fields specially designed brown handbag. Thought Anne Hathaway was great, really a breakout role for her and Meryl Streep was hysterical, I just want to walk around and say “that’s all” in a monotone voice to every person who pesters me, even a little! Adrian Grenier…. I like him better in Entourage, his character in the movie bothered me, a lot- a little too sappy and too unable to control his woman; he couldn’t even get her to celebrate his birthday with him. Clearly work ruined their love affair. Perhaps it was meant to be ruined, perhaps their were just college sweethearts who never had a future in the real world. But the other perhaps is that they were meant to be together and ambition and Hermes got in the way.

So… some tips for keeping your relationship a relationship and working your ass off to get ahead at the same time….

Figure out a way to balance work and play. This will take effort on your part.

Its easier to figure out in advance what time is going to be allottedas personal time because if you just say, you will find the time and don’t earmark specific time, you will always be at your desk at Goldman Sachs and you will never get to see the Philharmonic in the Park or Grucci fireworks in East Hampton.

Make certain you never cancel on the same person more than once unless it is really an emergency (not that an IPO is blowing up but that you have a sick relative or death in the family.) People are tolerant in small doses.

If you cancel more than once, you need to make a grand gesture to salvage your relationship, saying your sorry and that you will make it up to the person is not good enough. Actions speak louder than words so definitely send those flowers, and definitely not red roses, something more special is in order, perhaps Purple Tulips (see Matchbook: the Diary of a Modern Day Matchmaker). Or send candy, not a Twix bar but something glorious like from Maison du Chocolat or better yet show up with something romantic like a wrapped present box with an assortment of spa products from Bliss and a gift certificate for some treatments.

Keep in mind that if your budget does not allow for a grandious expenditure, which might be why you are working your butt off, something sweet and thoughtful can do the apology trick as well. Send a Monk-email, or send a bag of Hershey kisses, you can definitely afford a few e-cards and some Hersheys, well the bag is under $3!!