Welcome to a new sub-series of the Monday Meeting: Workplace Fashion.

Lately, whenever I’m shopping I’m on the lookout for great pieces that I could wear to work AND dress-down for the weekends and fun. I thought it would be fun to start a series that features different bloggers and their favourite work outfits.

Today I have a few lovely participants who have sent me photos of themselves in outfits they typically wear in to the office. This series will be running every few weeks and the best part? It’s going to have themes!

The next time we do this the theme will be Work Appropriate Summer Dresses. So, if you want to participate, send me some pictures in your summer dresses that you wear to work and I’ll post this series again when I have enough submissions

If you are interested in participating please email me a photo of yourself in your work attire and in the email state the following:

1. First name or blogging nickname

2. URL (if applicable)

3. Where you got the outfit

4. Business or industry that you work in

5. Your thoughts on workplace fashion

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Here are some of the workplace fashion photos for this week.

Olivia from Blissful Runner:

Olivia works in the construction industry as a Marketing and Business Development Coordinator and she believes that, “sometimes our first impression is the only one we will ever make – so make it count.”

Nora from Walking with Nora:

Nora works as an Events and Marketing Manager for a small business. Her top is from Ann Taylor Loft, her pants are from Gap, her shoes are from Macy’s, her earrings are from Etsy and her ring is from Disney, by Macy’s.

Finally, here are three of the outfits I wore to work last week!

Pretty much ALL of my stuff is from Ricki’s with the exception of the top in the middle picture. I can’t remember where I got that. I’m a sucker for Ricki’s, they have cute clothes for a great price. Plus I’m a size smaller there than anywhere else

I hope you enjoyed the first post of this new series! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with for workplace dresses!

So, tell me, what’s the dress code in your office? Is it business-casual, super dressy or super laidback? What’s your typical work outfit?

You can usually find me in some variation of the above outfits all week: Nice pants, nice blouse? Done!

It’s Monday, which not only means a new Monday Meeting post but also the start of the work week for many people – me included!

This will be my second week back to work but my first full week of work as I took two days off last week for grad.

I have to say, that the biggest adjustment I have to working full-time is sitting in a desk all day. By the end of the day, my back usually hurts! And by mid-afternoon, I tend to go into a slump where all I want to do is put my head down on the desk and take a nap.

Last week after the first day went like this I decided to take some precautions against it. Here’s how I’m working on beating the 9-5/mid-day slump.

Taking a real lunch break and leaving the office.

Even if I’m not doing actual work, I tend to eat lunch at my desk and read blogs or look at Facebook. I find that on days when I leave the office for lunch – or even to meet a friend for coffee for – I don’t hit the mid-afternoon slump as hard.

Exercising during the day

We do Office Yoga on Thursdays and I find that after taking an hour away from the glare of the computer screen and stretching it out, I’m way more focused in the afternoon. Even on days when we don’t have yoga, I try to escape at lunchtime for a run or even a stroll down the block.

Doing a different task

Even something as simple as getting up from my computer and spending a few minutes doing some shredding or tidying up the kitchen help to “wake me up” in the afternoons. It gets me standing and moving and, most importantly, up from my desk!

So, tell me, do you work a 9-5 job at a desk? What are your secrets for beating the mid-afternoon slump and getting through the day?

PS: I am working on a new addition to the Monday Meeting series and I need your help. I am looking for people who are willing to take photos of themselves in their work attire to be featured on the blog! If you’re interested, email me for more deets! amber@girlwiththeredhair.com

Hi lovelies – it’s been awhile, a month to be exact, since the last Monday Meeting post! But they’re back and better than ever, starting off with a brand new featured career.

Today, please welcome Kathleen who blogs over at Kapachino. In this interview Kathleen details her work as a nurse. It’s not as “Grey’s Anatomy” as one might think

1. What exactly is your job?

I’m a registered nurse who specializes in oncology; in other words I care for patients who have cancer. I work in a large inpatient hospital that only sees adults. The patients on my floor are admitted for many different reasons, but usually for chemotherapy or some kind of complication.

2. Describe a typical shift in your job?

Although there’s no real “typical” shift considering so many things change day to day, there is a sort of routine that I try to follow. I get to work around 6:45 a.m., get my assignment (usually four patients), and take report from the night nurses. The first thing I do after that is get on the computer to check my patients’ lab results and vital signs to see if there is anything I need to address right away or call the doctor about. Next I go visit each one of my patients to do a physical assessment and to see if there is anything I can do for them.

Afterward, if there’s time, I like to get my findings documented in our computer system. At 9:00 a.m. most morning medications are due so I’ll spend some time on that. Doctors have usually been on the floor seeing patients by this time, so I will see what orders they have written. The rest of the shift is mainly spent carrying out orders (blood draws, tests, collecting samples, chemotherapy, etc.), helping the patients with anything they might need, and catching up on documentation. Evening medications are usually due around 5:00 p.m. Before the end of my shift I give a report to the next nurse coming on.

3. How is being a nurse in real life way different then the way that nurses careers are portrayed on TV shows, like Greys Anatomy?

Well, I have yet to hear of any romantic drama to happen on my floor, which is pretty disappointing! For one thing, the doctors aren’t nearly as good-looking as they are on TV. There can definitely be other kinds of drama, such as crazy situations with the patients and tension between coworkers, but for the most part coming to work is fairly routine.

4. Your job is physically and emotionally demanding – how do you deal with that?

Honestly, it can be extremely hard sometimes. If I’m dealing with something personally I have to do my best to put it aside while I’m at work because my patients need me. This can lead to some serious burnout later on if I’m not careful. Usually I can get through a tough day by prayer, teamwork with my coworkers, and snacks. Food always helps! At home I keep going by cutting myself some slack around the house. I have a few days off a week, and I try to dedicate at least one of those to resting and relaxing. Time off is essential, so I set my schedule so that I never work more than two days in a row. I also use all of my vacation time!

5. Does seeing so much pain, sadness and tragedy on a regular basis at work change your outlook on life at all?

It’s easy to get depressed, but I choose to take a different attitude. This may sound cliche, but my job has given me perspective. Whenever I’m in pain now, I think, “This might be kind of how my patients feel.” It’s made me incredibly grateful for my life, my health, and the health of my friends & family. Every day I’m aware of the fact that I could one day experience what my patients and their families are, so it helps me appreciate today.

6. What is one thing about your job that most people assume that really isn’t true?

I wasn’t quite sure what other people assume about nurses, so I asked my husband what he thought about them before he met me, and how his opinion has changed. This is what he said: “The one thing I remember is being amazed at how challenging nursing school is and how being a nurse is not just caregiving but also being highly trained with medical knowledge. I just really changed my perception of what a nurse is, from someone who changes bandages and gives shots to an extremely highly trained medical professional.” I think that about sums it up!

7. What would you tell someone who is considering becoming a nurse?

I would suggest volunteering (there are tons of great programs) or picking up a part-time job in a medical setting so you can see firsthand what goes on. Nursing isn’t for everyone, but it is an amazing vocation for those who feel called. Keep in mind that there so many different settings you can work in as a nurse, so don’t feel limited to a hospital or to one particular field.

Any other nurses out there? Anyone who thought about becoming a nurse but didn’t?

PS: I’m looking for someone to do the featured career in JUNE. If you’re interested, please contact me!