If you thought the 80s was all about big hair, sparkly spandex, and awkward dance moves, well, you’d only be partially right.

Believe it or not, the decade many people would like to forget proved to be one of my more insightful mentors throughout my career—particularly through its music. Although I was much too young to see their relevance when they first came out over the airwaves (you know, as in the radio, before we all had iPods and Pandora?), these songs certainly highlighted some important career lessons that I would only come to appreciate once I joined the workforce.

Read (and listen) on for some surprisingly wise guidance gleaned from my soundtrack of the 80s.

1. Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder

My very first job after college wasn’t the most glamorous and honestly, probably wasn’t all that critical to world peace or global financial stability and all that. But that didn’t faze me in the slightest. I was young and ambitious, and my days as an inexperienced youth were in the past. Ain’t nothin’ gonna breaka my stride!

2. Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie

When I first moved to San Francisco from my home state of Montana, the culture shock was both welcome and, well, shocking. I remember jostling along through the train station, trying to get to my first day of work and feeling this incredible pressure and tension. Queen and David Bowie know all about it, and after listening to this song, I kind of grew to love the pressure, too.

3. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

When I first heard this song, I thought it was about love. Nope, it’s about the near murderous rage my annoying cubemate sent me into every Monday morning as she smacked her gum and clipped her fingernails at her desk. Yes, at her desk! FYC’s peppy tune somehow calmed my frazzled nerves and I soon learned to block out the majority of annoying behavior, surely contributing to my non-existent criminal record. Thanks guys, I owe you one.

4. Turning Japanese by The Vapors

Coming from a small town, it took a little adjustment for me to understand I was working in a global economy. This song helped remind me. OK, not really, but it’s such a fun song!

5. Whip It by Devo

My first role as a manger was certainly a challenge. I had no management training, and most of my staff wasn’t much younger than me, so asserting myself took some getting used to. Thankfully, this song made sure I never forgot what to do when a problem came along. Who knew Devo had a side gig as management coaches?

P.S. Those hats!

6. Don’t Stand So Close To Me by The Police

I think it’s statistically impossible to make it through a career without working with someone you’ve got the hots for that you totally shouldn’t. Thankfully, Sting helpfully reminds us of the dangers of fraternizing with subordinates (or, in his case, students) with this cautionary tale.

7. Mystery Song by ?

Last, but certainly not least, I’ll leave you with a little mystery song—one that reminds me to always be ready for anything.

Photo courtesy of Squeaky Marmot.

I come home to my apartment after work to an unlikely scene: boxes of fertility drugs strewn everywhere and a biohazard sharps container on my desk. Every morning, I go to a clinic where my blood is drawn and my estrogen rates calculated. When I wake up, I give myself an injection in the stomach. In the evening, I get two more—wherever I can find a spot that isn’t tender. Blood goes to the lab, hormones go in my body.

In the past five days, my estrogen levels have gone up almost 700%. The doctors are all very happy that I am responding so well. Each day for the past six days, I undergo an ultrasound where they track the daily growth of the follicles in my uterus, each one containing a single cell known as an egg. Currently, I have 14. I feel oddly proud of my fertility.

About 15 days ago, I was not the subject of this self-inflicted science experiment, but just another single girl observing life and its events. The thing that snapped me into action wasn’t quite a snap so much as it was a scheduling realization. For the first time in months, I wouldn’t be off at some wedding or on a work trip—I finally could freeze my eggs because I was going to be in one place for a full menstrual cycle!

I had begun casual research on the process months ago, but wasn’t serious about pursuing it until I started doing the math, running the numbers, and facing the facts.

Here are those facts:

I’m 34 now and I’ve been on 12 dates since my last relationship fell apart over a year and a half ago. I haven’t found anyone that I really want to spend that much time with, let alone be impregnated by.

I also started a demanding new job, one that allows me to pursue my mission of improving the world, but also one that doesn’t leave a lot of time for a personal life. I often work 12-14 hour days. And I live in Washington, D.C., a town replete with the types of men I’ve self-selected away from. These are the sacrifices we make to pursue the things we believe in. But even if I did have a partner, this isn’t the year I would want to begin a family.

And I’m not even sure I want kids, but I’m damn sure I want the option. The jobs can have my time, but they can’t have my fertility.

Yes, it’s expensive—rounding about $10,000 for a cycle of treatment. Not everyone can afford that, but I’ve been saving for a house for years, and I decided, in this market, I’d be better off making a bet on myself than on real estate. Why have a house if you have no one to fill it with, anyway?

At 35, women enter “advanced maternal age.” Really. That’s how they talk about us. The miscarriage rate jumps to 25% and continues to get higher after 36. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome becomes 1 in 350, as compared to 1 in 1,250 at age 30. But with all these issues, it’s the age of the egg, not the age of the woman, that’s in play here. So by freezing my eggs, I’m in essence freezing time—at least on that vector.

Egg freezing has only resulted in about 2,000 live births, and it’s still considered an experimental process (which is why insurance doesn’t cover it). My hope is that more women will do it—and with 30 million women in the United States between 20 and 34, it should be possible to bring the costs down.

I also hope that more women will talk about it. As I started the process, I wondered why I hadn’t done this earlier, and why more women aren’t considering egg freezing as an option. I know if I had heard of even one person who had been through it, I would have done it sooner. If we’re given the option to take renter’s insurance, why shouldn’t we take out insurance on our ovaries? It’s not a 100% guarantee, as only half of all frozen eggs are viable after fertilization, but that’s better than having no buffer on the odds.

So, between the injections I’ve been giving myself for the past five days—the one to stimulate egg production, the one to stimulate egg growth, and the one to stop me from ovulating—I’ve had a bit of time to reflect. I realize that going through this process has given me a sense of relief. Or perhaps its the soaring levels of estrogen I’m experiencing. But in either case, I’m getting asked out more and feeling extra-creative these days. I’m also not waiting. For anything.

I’ve enjoyed the reactions I get from telling friends, especially exes. They all think it’s a great idea. (Somehow, I get the feeling it takes some pressure off of them.) While my last ex strained to tell me how awesome he thought it was, I was yelling in my head, “I did this because of you! Because you didn’t want to get married and have kids! Because you wanted to have a long-term, go-nowhere relationship with me! You bastard!” But, of course, I didn’t say any of this, and instead squeaked out a “thanks for being supportive.”

I thought of this as I drove to get my final injection, where I will meet a doctor friend of mine in the bathroom of the Hilton. She will jump out of her White House fellow’s dinner to give me the injection that will trigger my ovulation. I really couldn’t contend with the 2.5-inch needle that needs to go into my thigh muscle. Perhaps it’s all the estrogen that’s making me a wuss.

At 5 AM on a cold October morning, exactly 48 hours after the injection, my cousin drove me out to Maryland for the 30-minute procedure. It was the day before Halloween, a perfect moment for a harvest. I was lightly anesthetized and when I woke up from one of the sweetest sleeps I’ve had in a long time, the doctor told me they had retrieved 15 eggs. The average is between 8-12 collected per cycle. I smiled, knowing that even my ovaries were over-achievers.

I felt an incredible weight lift off of me in that moment. That night, and for several more, I slept like a baby. In the next two days after my procedure, a childhood friend and a good friend from college informed me they were pregnant and getting hitched. I was happy for them, and smiled. Right then and there, I knew that I made the right decision for me.

Meet Alix, a brand-new lawyer in Chicago. It’s Saturday morning, and she’s managed to squeeze in a weekend getaway to DC. But unfortunately, work seems to follow her everywhere (sound familiar?). Ever wonder what it’s like to be a lawyer? Well, here’s a look at her day off.

Breakfast is accompanied by Alix’s laptop and law text. She’s working on a motion to amend a court order.

Her assignments don’t get in the way of having a little fun, though. On a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, she stops to admire merchandise in the store windows—including some overpriced yoga gear.

A shoe displays catches her eye.

Inside the boutique, she buys a pair of fake diamond earrings. They’re an addition to her work wardrobe—so it’s totally justified, right?

After wandering into Ann Taylor Loft, her mind shifts back to lawyer mode as she compares sweaters that’ll be suitable for the office.

Back outside, she makes a quick call regarding a client back in Chicago.

The next stop is gelato. After sampling several flavors, the winner is white chocolate.

As she eats her gelato, Alix catches up on her e-mail. After all, it’s been almost two hours.

Alix heads to a nearby salon for a pedicure, but turns toward the exit when she discovers their high prices. The manager questions her leaving, and she states matter-of-factly that her pedicures at home are much cheaper. He reluctantly gives her a discount, and she stays. (Nice negotiating!)

She meets up with her hometown friend Allie for dinner. After tapas and cocktails, Allie shows Alix her new studio apartment nearby. After a brief tour of the space, they research bookshelves over glasses of Riesling.

Alix once again checks her iPhone to make sure she doesn’t have any messages from the office. (More than a few weekends’ plans have been hijacked by work!) All is clear. Time to make plans for the night.

Alix unwinds at a pub with Allie and some friends from law school.

Here’s Alix, in the last waking hours of her mini-vacation slip away, laughing at a text from a friend. The next morning, she’ll be on a plane back home.

Happy weekend, Muses! It’s Sunday, the Oscars are on TV, and we’ve got exactly what you need for a loungey weekend day. Oh—you wanted to be productive today? Well, we’ve got that too. Dig in for an eclectic blend of awesomeness in this Weekend Recovery.

Drool

The Best & Worst Oscar Looks of All Time

Get ready for today’s Academy Award festivities by taking a stroll down Red Carpet Memory Lane. This photo slideshow will remind you of the best (Audrey Hepburn! Anne Hathaway!) and worst (Celine Dion and the backwards tuxedo? Bjork and the dead swan?) gowns of all time.

Giggle

Re-live the 90s

In other going-back-in-time news, we were inspired by Cubicle Chic’s throwback to the 90s this week and wanted to uncover a time capsule of the decade. Take a look at 48 photos that perfectly capture the 90s, including loads of neon, the Clintons, Full House, *NSYNC, and our personal favorite: old school Ryan Gosling in BOP Magazine.

Watch

Learn How to Order Scotch like a Pro

Want to try whisky, but not sure what to order besides the “Jack and Coke” of your college years? The fabulously ridiculous (and fabulously Scottish) kilt-wearing Ricky Crawford breaks down the process of ordering Scotch in this quick video. I can’t promise you’ll like it once you try it, but at least you’ll feel better when you place your order with the bartender.

Do

Make Things from IKEA Way Cooler

OK, I know. Here’s the productive stuff. Want to update your apartment, but don’t have the cash to purchase home furnishings from anywhere but IKEA? Here’s the answer to both of your problems: IKEA Hackers, offering tons of tips on taking items you purchased from the Scandinavian retailer and turning them into something much, much better. Make a sweet lamp, create a cool knife block for your three knives, or if you’re really ambitious, turn your studio into a one-bedroom.

At the very least, you’ll never hear “oh! I have that exact same $20 particle board coffee table” from your friends ever again.

Photo courtesy of Mingle MediaTV.

If you find yourself on email for a significant chunk of your day, you’re not alone. In fact, the average person spends two and a half hours a day on email and receives 147 messages, according to this infographic by Lemon.ly.

So what can we learn from all this email? Turns out, a lot! Take a look and you’ll score some tips, including when you should send emails (i.e., when people want to read them) and what words to use to improve your changes of a reply. Happy sending!

Home page photo courtesy of Ian Lamont. Infographic courtesy of Lemon.ly.

If you’re trying to catch up on all the movies that came out in 2011, watching the Oscar nominees is usually a good place to start (and you still have time before Sunday!). But if you don’t have hours to kill at the theater this week? Just take a quick six minutes out of your day and watch this clip.

In true mash-up fashion, video editor Matt Shapiro stitches together clips from 254 films released in 2011. The result is not only amazing, but also a story completely on it’s own. While you may not be able to identify all the movies (and if you can, I’m impressed), or even tell what they’re actually about, in the end, it’s just a good reminder of the magic of the movies.

Video courtesy of Schnappy Productions.

To a Silicon Valley outsider, it may seem like everyone out here is “technical.” Internet giants dominate the job market, and online start-ups are a dime a dozen. But when industry insiders describe someone as “technical” (e.g., “I’m looking for a technical co-founder”), it has a very specific meaning: that person can write code.

It’s in this context that the debate about women in tech gets interesting. On one side are those who complain that there aren’t really any women in tech; on the other are those who seek to prove that there are. Fast Company and The Huffington Post can be counted in the latter group—both published lists last year to honor the tech industry’s top women. HuffPo’s “18 Female Founders In Tech To Watch” and Fast Company’s “30 Most Influential Women in Technology” drew attention to talented and powerful women who are taking the tech industry by storm.

But if you look closely at the lists, an interesting fact emerges: Only about a third of the women on either list can code.

Conversely, nearly all of the top men in tech have software engineering backgrounds. Forbes’ 2011 list of “The World’s Most Powerful People” included tech industry leaders like Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Baidu’s Robin Li—all men, all founders, all computer scientists.

Imagine your disappointment if only a third of the “Top Women in Music” were musicians. Similarly, it would be a little weird if an overwhelming majority of the leading women in medicine had never studied science. There are lots of ways to lead and shape an industry, but shouldn’t mastering the core of the craft rank near the top?

I bring this up not to disparage the “non-technical” women in tech. I am one of them. Last fall, Femme-o-nomics named me one of the “Top 50 Women to Watch in Tech.” I’m on the founding team of an online company, and I write about issues related to tech, so I was hugely honored to receive the recognition. That said, I’m the first to admit that I’m around tech more than I’m in it. If I were a Craigslist post, I’d be listed as “tech adjacent.”

Tech is a hot sector, and it’s exciting to see more women getting involved. But let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. We still have a long way to go before we reach gender equality at the core of the industry, and the recent boom of “women in tech” might be misleading. Just as having a website doesn’t necessarily make your new company a “tech start-up,” having a blog doesn’t necessarily make you a “woman in tech.”

I’m not saying that coding is all there is to the tech industry. There’s an important place for non-technical skills: Expertise in online business models, digital marketing, e-commerce, new media, social media strategy, gadgets, and IT infrastructure are all essential to the technology ecosystem.

But the fundamental building blocks of tech—the magic, if you will—come from the engineers who write code. They are the conductors in this symphony of 1s and 0s. Amber Reyngoudt, software engineer at Milk Inc., likened computer scientists to painters or sculptors: “We actually create something with our own hands and then say, ‘I made this.’”

So why is it so important to have more female coders in the tech world? Reyngoudt’s respect for the power to create highlights one of the most compelling reasons: Inspiring a new generation of women to learn computer science empowers female entrepreneurs to come up with unique solutions to new problems. Additionally, as more and more industries step into the digital age, tech will imbue every part of our economy. Computer science is a growing field, one in which we desperately need more top talent. And one in which women can’t be left behind.

Although tech industry women like Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and HP’s Meg Whitman deserve praise for their leadership, the tech world needs more coder role models like Google’s Marisa Mayer. Only then are we ever going to convince the next generation that computer science isn’t just for boys.

Photo courtesy of Ed Yourdon.

While traveling in South Asia, you hop off a bus (one without air conditioning that just took 15 blind mountain curves, mind you) when your stomach begins to tell you the chicken you ate at the food stall wasn’t chicken at all. Walking across the street to find a restroom, you pass a small child with big white eyes, his hand to his mouth, motioning “feed me.”

Soon you see that the street is filled with these children, begging for food from locals and tourists alike. What should you do? Should you show the poor children some compassion? Or should you walk on by, callously shaking your head, like you’ve been taught to do at home?

While poverty may be “out of sight and out of mind” in the West, when you travel in many parts of the world, you’ll find it right there in your face. But understanding its complexities goes beyond deciding whether to give your spare change to one person. Read on for ways to handle these situations when you travel—and what you can really do to help.

1. Get to Know the Faces (and the Structures) of Poverty

Unfortunately, when you’re approached by dozens of begging children with their hands outstretched, you have to put a wall up and walk away. Often beggars are controlled by gangs, and those kids don’t necessarily get to keep the money they collect.

But while giving out money may not help, you can get to know the people standing in front of you. Remember that everyone, no matter how wealthy or poor, has his or her own story. Showing a little respect, or just breaking the silence by introducing yourself, can go a long way. Listening, even when you don’t understand the language, can go even further.

And yes, when you do need to walk away from someone who appears to be in need, it can seem harsh—and that’s why it’s important to try to understand the underlying structural and economic issues that cause this type of poverty.

Let your experience motivate you into taking action. Instead of giving out spare change, work toward ending poverty on a larger scale. Gain firsthand experience by participating in local anti-poverty initiatives and researching sustainable programs such as micro loans. Get to know the communities, too. For me, researching the livelihoods of refugees living in a garbage dump community was a profound experience that has guided many of my ideals on poverty alleviation since.

2. Challenge the Poverty of Ideas

It’s important to remember that a person’s lack of resources doesn’t equate to a lack of knowledge, says business professor Anil Gupta. Poor communities are often overlooked, but they have a lot to teach mainstream societies.

Instead of offering a quick fix with cash, encourage the development of a “can-do” spirit. Learn about networks such as SRISTI (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institution), which support grassroots innovations and intellectual property rights among poor inventors and makes sure new ideas are heard—all of which are essential to global progress. Some of the most relevant and creative inventions to come from these efforts include a pedal-powered washing machine and an amphibious bicycle for monsoon season.

Pushing traditional or Western solutions may not work for other cultures and economies. The people within impoverished communities don’t need scholars and experts to solve their challenges—often they just need help spreading their message. Acknowledge that innovation is everywhere, and get refreshed by finding big ideas in small places.

3. Acknowledge Global Complexity

“Why can’t the United Nations just end poverty?” you may wonder. It’s easy to blame world leaders and international institutions for the problems you see while traveling. But consider how challenging it is to make change happen with an issue that’s so pervasive, and bureaucratic processes that slow progress. And whether you’re encountering poverty, trafficking, or even armed conflict, understand that much history has led up to this moment and the issue isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem.

Read up on that history, along with current issues and foreign policy, to get all angles of the story. But, also realize that there have been many success stories of progress. Watch Hans Rosling’s “New Insights on Poverty” TEDTalk for a great visual demonstration of important advances.

4. Get in the Field

If you’re tired of witnessing injustice or poverty on the news or when traveling, take action! You can volunteer, teach abroad, or get a job with an organization in order to learn and serve. You can also serve as a researcher or create a start-up with sustainable and ethical solutions to global challenges. For ideas, check out organizations like Global Exchange or Students Helping Honduras. Know that you can’t change the world overnight, but with determination, small community-based projects and organizations do make an impact.

When traveling, you may see things that make you feel helpless or wear you down. But that doesn’t mean you should fall into callousness or apathy. Take a moment to make the effort—you’ll be surprised at how when you treat people with respect and humanity, it will find its way back to you.

Photo courtesy of Marcin Grabski.

Ever wondered what really goes on at Fashion Week? Wonder no longer. I’m here to give you the inside scoop—backstage photos included!

As a photographer pursuing a career in the fashion industry, I was fortunate enough to shoot for two magazines during New York’s Fashion Week. In a short (and surreal) few days, I experienced a handful of events—attending runway shows, snapping shots backstage, and seeing model presentations.

I got the chance to be up close and personal with some of the biggest designers, hear live rock bands and DJs spinning, check out the newest fashion trends, and even meet a few celebrities! My feet might have been a tad sore after trucking my way through Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but it was well worth the effort!

Check out some of my photos for an insider look at the Fashion Week experience:

Obakki: Chic Professional Female

This was the first event I attended, and it left me in awe the whole time. The set-up was classy and feminine, just the right backdrop for Obakki’s simple, yet elegant clothing. Her runway looks were a perfect mix of glamorous, yet professional style.

Veda: Underground Rocker

Veda’s event was definitely my favorite—both style-wise, and because it was the most fun! Veda’s young, trendy clothing had a serious edge to it, and the show featured a live female rock band, graffiti and art on the walls, and gorgeous velvet tapestries hanging. Veda is relatively new, but I’m betting she’s going to be worn more and more in New York, and spreading out West soon, too.

Titania Inglis: Chic with Edge

I was backstage at the Titania Inglis show, so I had the opportunity to see the clothing up close and personal! Her gorgeous outfits consisted of all kinds of different fabrics and patterns, with pieces of leather tied in. Between the materials used and the dark color scheme, this collection will fit perfectly in to the fall season.

Monica Chang: Calling Out to All Women

Being backstage at the Monica Chang collection had me a tad star-stuck—there were several celebrities from the show Scouted along with model Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann—who I was photographing only several inches away from her face. (Don’t worry—I made sure to maintain my cool!)

Katie Gallagher: Head-Turner

I absolutely loved Katie Gallagher—both the collection and the dark, edgy feel of the event. Models made their way down the runway walking on top of what looked like black sand, and they wore a range of beautiful, intricate, and cutting-edge designs.

NUMBERlab: Boy Meets World

Sometimes men don’t always get as excited over fashion as women do, but NUMBERlab proved that all it takes is a little mix and matching to strut the streets with a great outfit! The sporty, masculine looks were trendy without being over-the-top, appealing to the styles of many men.

Nautica: Prep Meets New York City

The venue for Nautica’s event was an old rustic bar with a “boat-like” community feel to it—very much the style of Nautica’s clothing. Hostesses walked around with mixed drinks, a DJ spun great music, and guests nibbled on lobster tails and oysters!

The collection consisted of sharp, clean blazers, upbeat vests, and outfits with a strong emphasis on bright colors. If your style tends to fall on the preppy side, Nautica is definitely the designer for you!

Misha: Cocktail Goddess

Young designer Misha definitely knows how to grab attention with a look that’s fun and flirty. Her trendy cocktail dresses exhibited an array of vibrant colors with sequences, giving the overall collection a mermaid-like feel. And any of her looks would be perfect for a night out on the town with your girlfriends!

Gregory Parkinson: Layers Never Looked so Good

I was blown away by Gregory Parkinson’s line. The collection, which consisted of mix-matched patterns, layers, angles, and colors, had a very “rag-doll” feel to it, loose and playful, but so interesting. Not only was the clothing super stylish, but it also looked like it would actually be comfortable to wear!

Your busy schedule might normally deter you from hosting a get-together, but with Smitten Kitchen’s Spaghetti with Lemon and Olive Oil, you’ll never need to plan (or shop) for hours before a dinner party again.

The saltiness of the Parmesan cheese and citrusy lemon juice and zest impart the dish with sophisticated flair, and the peppery arugula and black pepper provide contrasting flavor. The cream finishes the pasta by giving it a silky texture.

Serve with crusty bread or as a side to a meat dish.

Note: The arugula, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice and zest can be adjusted to taste.

Photo courtesy of JuJu Kim.